knowledge for outdoors
The weather, clearly explained.
Practical articles about forecasts, rain, wind and temperature, planning your day around the weather. No dense meteorological jargon.
When Does It First Snow? New York, Chicago, Boston and More
When does the first snow usually fall? In 36 years of data, the typical first snow came around Oct 10 in Denver, Nov 21 in Chicago and Dec 6 in New York. Dates for 7 US cities.
Read the article →Bonfire Night 2026 Weather: Will It Rain on November 5?
Will it rain on Bonfire Night 2026? Based on 36 years of data, London averages 12°C by day and 6°C at night on November 5, with rain in about 28% of years.
Read the article →Storm Boelo: Amber Warning for Scotland as Clocks Go Back
Storm Boelo follows Storm Austen with an amber wind warning for most of Scotland from Saturday 9pm to Sunday 9pm, with gusts of 60 to 70 mph and up to 80 mph on exposed coasts.
Read the article →Best Places for Snowbirds: Winter Weather in 12 Destinations Compared
Where should snowbirds spend the winter? We compared 12 destinations from November through March, from Florida and Arizona to South Texas, Hawaii, Mexico and Puerto Rico: daytime warmth, cold nights and sea temperatures.
Read the article →Severe Drought in England: Will This Week's Rain Help?
Severe drought has been declared in parts of six English counties, with some reservoirs below 20%. A wet week is coming to the south, but here is why it will not end the drought on its own.
Read the article →DANA Adam: Spain Flooding and the Weather for Half-Term
The DANA Adam brought red warnings and extreme rain to Valencia, Alicante, Ibiza and Formentera, with four deaths. Here is the forecast for Benidorm, Mallorca and Ibiza for the rest of the week and October half-term.
Read the article →Orionid Meteor Shower 2026: When to Watch and Will the Sky Be Clear?
The Orionids peak around October 21-22, 2026. The best time to watch, why the moon matters this year, and how often the sky is clear before dawn in the US and the UK.
Read the article →Where Is It Warm in December? 26 Winter Sun Destinations Compared
Where can you find warm weather in December and over Christmas? We compared 26 destinations on temperature and sea temperature, from Florida (25°C, 77°F) to the Caribbean, Mexico, Hawaii and Thailand.
Read the article →UK Storm Names 2026/27: The Full List, from Austen to Wende
The full list of UK and Irish storm names for 2026/27, from Austen and Boelo to Wende, with pronunciations, who chose each name, and when a storm gets named.
Read the article →Winter 2026-27 Forecast: What a Strong El Niño Means for the US
A strong to very strong El Niño is likely this winter. Here is what that has typically meant for US winters: a wetter South and Gulf Coast, a milder, drier North, and why no two El Niño winters are the same.
Read the article →Can You See the Northern Lights Tonight? The Kp Index Explained
What Kp index do you need to see the northern lights from the US or UK? How far south the aurora reaches at each level, why clear skies matter as much as a solar storm, and how to get the best view.
Read the article →Hurricane Isaias: The Latest First Atlantic Hurricane in 121 Years
Isaias became the first hurricane of the 2026 Atlantic season on October 8, the latest date since 1905, and made landfall near Destin, Florida, as a Category 2 on October 9. Why the season stayed so quiet.
Read the article →First Frost in London: When Does It Happen?
When does the first frost hit London each autumn? Based on 35 years of data, the median date is November 14, though it has arrived as early as mid-October.
Read the article →Thanksgiving 2026 Weather Forecast: How Cold Will It Be? NYC and 10 More Cities
How cold will it be on Thanksgiving 2026? Typical November 26 weather for New York and 10 more US cities, from Boston and Chicago to Los Angeles and Miami, plus rain, snow and parade wind odds.
Read the article →Halloween 2026 Weather: Will It Rain, and How Cold Will It Be?
Will it rain on Halloween 2026, and how cold will it be? Typical October 31 weather for New York and 10 other US cities, from Seattle to Miami, plus when the real forecast is available.
Read the article →When Does Daylight Saving Time End in 2026?
Clocks fall back on different dates in the UK/Europe and the US in 2026, creating a one-week gap. Here's exactly when, and what it means for your evenings.
Read the article →NYC Marathon 2026: What Will the Weather Be Like?
The TCS New York City Marathon runs on November 1, 2026, 50 years after the first five-borough race. Here is what 36 years of weather data say about typical race-day conditions in New York.
Read the article →Understanding Color-Coded Weather Warnings
Learn how color-coded weather warning systems work, what yellow, orange and red generally mean, and how to prepare for each level.
Read the article →How Rain Probability Actually Works
Understand what a rain percentage in a forecast actually means, and why a 40% chance of rain does not mean 40% of the day will be wet.
Read the article →What Counts as a Heatwave?
Discover how a heatwave is actually defined, why the threshold changes from country to country, and how to plan around one safely.
Read the article →Beaufort Wind Scale Chart: mph, Knots & km/h
Full Beaufort wind scale chart converting force 0 to 12 into km/h, mph and knots, plus what each level actually looks and feels like outdoors.
Read the article →What Does "Feels Like" Temperature Actually Mean?
Discover what the 'feels like' temperature really measures, and why wind and humidity can matter more than the number on the thermometer.
Read the article →How Accurate Is a 14-Day Weather Forecast?
Find out how reliable a 14-day weather forecast really is, and how to read the days further out without being misled by them.
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