North America Weather & Natural Hazards Today – November 14, 2026

Orbis Weather | United States, Canada & Mexico

By Paul Harrison | Orbis Weather

Saturday, November 14, 2026

Pacific Storms, Flooding Threats, Mountain Snow and an Early Taste of Winter Across North America

North America is experiencing a complicated mix of weather hazards this weekend, with Pacific storms bringing heavy rainfall and mountain snow to the western United States, flash-flooding concerns developing across the southern Plains, and colder air spreading through eastern parts of the country.

The National Weather Service (NWS) is monitoring several areas of concern as the continent moves deeper into November.

The most significant developments include an atmospheric river affecting the Pacific Northwest, heavy rain threatening parts of Texas and the lower Mississippi Valley, lake-effect snow around the Great Lakes, and frost and freezing temperatures extending into portions of the southeastern United States.

Meanwhile, the approaching 2026–2027 winter season is attracting additional attention as El Niño influences expectations for temperatures, precipitation and storm tracks across North America.

1. United States: Pacific Storms Bring Heavy Rain, Mountain Snow and Coastal Hazards

A powerful Pacific weather system is driving unsettled conditions across the western United States this weekend.

An offshore low-pressure system and associated atmospheric river are transporting moisture toward Washington, Oregon and northern California.

According to the NOAA Weather Prediction Center’s November 14 forecast, repeated rounds of rainfall are expected across the Pacific Northwest, with particular concern for localized flooding in northwestern Washington.

Primary hazards include:

• Heavy rainfall and localized flooding in western Washington.

• Mountain snow across higher elevations of the Cascades and interior western states.

• Gusty winds and hazardous coastal conditions.

• High surf along exposed Pacific coastlines.

• Additional rain and mountain snow as another surge of Pacific moisture approaches on Sunday.

The unsettled pattern is expected to extend inland toward the Intermountain West and Four Corners region.

Motorists traveling across mountain passes should be prepared for rapidly changing road conditions, reduced visibility and possible snow-covered surfaces.

Another round of Pacific moisture is forecast to arrive Sunday, potentially prolonging wet conditions across parts of California and the Northwest.

2. Southern United States: Flash-Flooding Risk Across Texas and the Mississippi Valley

The southern Plains and lower Mississippi Valley are another important area of concern.

A developing weather system moving eastward from the Four Corners region is interacting with moisture flowing northward from the Gulf of Mexico.

This combination is supporting widespread showers and isolated thunderstorms.

The Weather Prediction Center identifies the southern Plains as the primary focus for heavy rainfall and possible flash flooding on Saturday, with the threat shifting toward coastal Texas and the lower Mississippi Valley on Sunday.

Areas to monitor include southern and eastern Texas, Louisiana and neighboring portions of the lower Mississippi Valley.

Heavy rainfall may create dangerous driving conditions, especially in urban areas, low-lying roads and locations with poor drainage.

Residents should remember that flash flooding can develop quickly, sometimes far from the heaviest thunderstorms.

Safety reminder: Never drive through flooded roadways. Water depth and road damage may be impossible to determine from inside a vehicle.

3. Great Lakes and Northeast: Colder Air and Lake-Effect Snow

An upper-level trough remains established across the eastern United States, allowing colder air to spread across the Great Lakes and Northeast.

Persistent northwesterly winds are supporting lake-effect rain and snow showers downwind of the Great Lakes.

Higher elevations of the Appalachians may also experience snow as temperatures fall.

The greatest concerns are localized snowfall, slippery mountain roads, reduced visibility in heavier snow showers and freezing conditions overnight.

Lake-effect precipitation can vary dramatically over short distances. One community may experience significant snowfall while another nearby location receives very little.

Travelers should consult local National Weather Service forecasts before driving through snow-prone corridors around the Great Lakes or through higher elevations of the Northeast.

4. Southeast: Frost and Freeze Warnings Extend Southward

Colder overnight temperatures are spreading into portions of the Mid-Atlantic, Southeast and lower Mississippi Valley.

The National Weather Service reports frost advisories and freeze warnings affecting parts of these regions through Sunday morning.

This represents an important seasonal change for communities that have experienced relatively mild autumn conditions.

Potential impacts include damage to sensitive plants, risks to unprotected outdoor plumbing where temperatures remain below freezing, and hazardous conditions for people without adequate heating.

Gardeners and agricultural producers should monitor local temperature forecasts closely.

The colder conditions are expected to accompany a broad area of high pressure moving across the eastern United States.

5. Canada: British Columbia Faces Another Round of Heavy Rain

Western Canada is dealing with the consequences of a series of powerful Pacific storms.

Environment and Climate Change Canada reports that intense storms brought substantial rainfall and strong winds to coastal and interior British Columbia earlier this week.

Rainfall totals reported through November 12 included:

These are accumulated storm totals, not single-day rainfall measurements.

Another moisture-laden Pacific system is approaching British Columbia.

Environment Canada issued yellow-level rainfall warnings for Howe Sound and the Sea-to-Sky corridor between Squamish and Whistler on November 14.

An additional 40–70 mm (1.6–2.8 inches) of rain is possible from Saturday afternoon through Sunday night.

Already saturated ground increases the risk of standing water, washouts and localized flooding. Mountain roads may also become hazardous.

Elsewhere in Canada, residents should continue monitoring regional forecasts for seasonal snowfall, freezing temperatures and changing travel conditions. Specific nationwide warning totals were not verified for this report.

6. Mexico: Heavy Rain, Strong Winds and Cold Fronts

Mexico is experiencing contrasting weather conditions as cold fronts interact with tropical moisture.

Mexico’s Servicio Meteorológico Nacional (SMN) issued its November 14 forecast highlighting rainfall across the Yucatán Peninsula and northern Baja California.

Cold Front No. 5 is affecting eastern and southeastern Mexico, while Cold Front No. 6 is approaching the northwest.

Forecast rainfall for November 14:

The forecast also identifies wind gusts of 40–60 km/h (25–37 mph) across parts of northwestern Mexico, with possible sleet in the mountains of Baja California.

Meanwhile, temperatures could reach 30–35°C (86–95°F) across several southern and coastal states, including portions of the Yucatán Peninsula.

Western Baja California could experience waves reaching 4–5 meters (13–16 feet), creating dangerous marine conditions.

The SMN warns that heavier thunderstorms may produce localized flooding, rising streams and landslides in vulnerable areas.

7. Atlantic and Pacific Tropical Weather Outlook

The Atlantic hurricane season officially continues through November 30, although tropical activity has become quieter as November progresses.

As of the National Hurricane Center’s November 14 updates:

The National Hurricane Center’s 7 a.m. EST Atlantic outlook indicates that tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next seven days.

This does not eliminate the possibility of hazardous marine conditions, coastal flooding or heavy rainfall from non-tropical systems.

8. Wildfires and Air Quality: A Quieter Period After an Active Year

Wildfire activity across the United States is relatively subdued compared with the peak summer season, although several large fires remain uncontained.

According to the National Interagency Fire Center figures dated November 13, reported by Orbis Weather:

The year-to-date acreage burned was approximately 145% of the 10-year average.

Among the fires identified were Bee Haven 2 in Florida, Wild River in New Hampshire and Red Hill in Mississippi.

These are November 13 figures and should not be interpreted as a live November 14 incident count.

Even as temperatures decline, wildfire smoke can still affect communities near active incidents. Residents should consult local air-quality measurements rather than assuming cooler weather means smoke-free conditions.

9. Earthquakes and Geological Hazards

Earthquake activity remains an ongoing natural hazard across western North America.

The Pacific coastline, Alaska, western Canada, California and Mexico are all influenced by active tectonic boundaries.

Important areas of long-term seismic concern include the Cascadia Subduction Zone, the San Andreas Fault system, Alaska’s Aleutian region and the Pacific coast of Mexico.

However, this report does not include an independently verified list of earthquakes recorded during the past 24 hours. No specific magnitude, damage or tsunami warning should be inferred from the general regional risk.

For confirmed recent earthquakes, consult the USGS Latest Earthquakes map.

10. North America Weather Outlook: November 15–17

The coming days are likely to bring continued changes in the continental weather pattern.

Sunday, November 15

Pacific moisture is expected to bring another round of rain and mountain snow across the western United States. Heavy rainfall and localized flooding concerns shift toward coastal Texas and the lower Mississippi Valley. Frost and freezing temperatures remain a concern across parts of the South and East.

Monday, November 16

The western storm pattern remains unsettled, while colder conditions continue across parts of the eastern United States. A developing system near the Gulf Coast could begin spreading rainfall eastward.

Tuesday, November 17

The broader pattern favors further rain and mountain snow across the West, while the Gulf Coast and Florida may see increasing rainfall early in the week.

NOAA’s extended forecast also identifies a potential increase in heavy rainfall across California around Wednesday, November 18.

These are forecast trends rather than guarantees of specific conditions at individual locations.

11. El Niño and the Winter Ahead

Looking beyond the immediate forecast, NOAA’s 2026–2027 winter outlook suggests El Niño will play an important role in shaping North America’s seasonal weather.

For December 2026 through February 2027, NOAA favors:

• Warmer-than-average temperatures across much of the northern United States.

• Wetter-than-average conditions across parts of the southern United States, including California to Florida and portions of the Eastern Seaboard.

• Potential drought improvement across substantial areas of the country.

• Continued regional differences in snowfall and storm frequency.

These seasonal projections describe probabilities over three months. They do not predict individual winter storms, snowfall totals or specific dates of extreme weather.

12. North America Natural Hazards Summary

What North America Should Watch Next

The most immediate concerns are the continuing Pacific storm systems, the potential for flash flooding across the southern United States, and another round of heavy rain affecting already saturated areas of British Columbia.

The developing winter pattern also deserves attention. Colder air, mountain snowfall and freezing overnight temperatures are becoming increasingly important hazards as November progresses.

For communities in Mexico, heavy rain and strong coastal winds remain important concerns, particularly around the Yucatán Peninsula and Baja California.

Although tropical cyclone activity is currently quiet, the wider range of natural hazards across North America remains significant.

The next 48–72 hours will be particularly important for flood-prone communities, mountain travelers and coastal residents.

Official Weather Sources and Further Information

This report uses official meteorological information and publicly available hazard guidance. Readers should consult the following agencies for updated warnings and local forecasts.

• NOAA National Weather Service — U.S. warnings and local forecasts.

• NOAA Weather Prediction Center — Heavy rain, flooding and winter weather outlooks.

• Environment and Climate Change Canada — Canadian forecasts and alerts.

• Mexico’s Servicio Meteorológico Nacional — Mexican forecasts, cold fronts and rainfall warnings.

• National Hurricane Center — Atlantic and eastern Pacific tropical cyclone outlooks.

• National Interagency Fire Center — U.S. wildfire activity.

• AirNow — U.S. air-quality information.

• USGS Earthquake Hazards Program — Earthquake monitoring.

About This Report

North America Weather & Natural Hazards Today is an independent daily weather and natural hazards report published by Orbis Weather.

The report covers significant meteorological and environmental developments across the United States, Canada and Mexico, including severe storms, flooding, winter weather, tropical cyclones, wildfires and geological hazards.

Editorial methodology: Information is gathered from official government meteorological agencies, emergency-management resources and other identified sources. Forecasts are distinguished from observed conditions, and reported events are not presented as confirmed without supporting evidence.

Last updated: November 14, 2026. This report incorporates official forecasts available on November 14, with some wildfire observations dated November 13.

Weather conditions and warnings can change rapidly. Orbis Weather provides independent news coverage and does not issue official weather warnings. For emergencies, follow instructions from local authorities and national meteorological agencies.

Corrections or updates to published information should be directed to Orbis Weather through its website.

Published by Orbis Weather

By Paul Harrison

Orbis Weather — Tracking the World’s Weather and Natural Hazards.