10 Cozy Rituals to Prep Your Home (and Yourself) for Colder Weather - The Everygirl

In February 1983, a blizzard buried Washington, Baltimore, and Philadelphia in up to two feet of snow. In January 2016, another historic blizzard shut down the same cities. Both events struck during Super El Niño winters, which most people expect to be mild. Now an even stronger Super El Niño is building toward its December peak ahead of Winter 2026/2027. The latest October forecast data points to a milder northern U. S. and southern Canada, an active and stormy South, and a mild Europe. It also shows a notable shift toward a colder, snowier south-central and eastern U. S., and an unusual Polar Vortex disruption signal around mid-winter. I will break down what shifted in the latest winter forecast data, how the season is expected to unfold, and which other major winter storms past Super El Niño winters delivered. You can also check the updated Winter Forecast Explorer for every state, province, and country across the United States, Canada, and Europe, with the latest temperature and precipitation forecasts.

As temperatures drop, cases of gastrointestinal viruses like the norovirus increase. An infectious diseases physician explains to The Weather Network's Rachel Schoutsen the connection between colder weather and the spread of the virus, offering key advice on prevention and treatment. Watch the video above for the full explanation on the stomach bug-colder weather connection. Thumbnail courtesy of CANVA.

Although it may seem like your plants are fading away, there is a lot you can do to make the garden ready to embrace cooler temperatures and flourish in spring. Horticulturalist Ken Brown of Whitby, Ont., has been dallying in the dirt for most of his life. He has 5 hacks to get ahead as we transition into fall.1) FERTILIZING THE LAWNLate October, when the ground starts to freeze, is a great time to fertilize the lawn. The grass crowns will store the fertilizer, increasing the chances for growth in the spring.2) SOAKING EVERGREENSAs the sun shines on evergreen trees in the spring, they wake up and ask the roots for water. If there is no water, the foliage will often turn brown. Soaking your evergreens in the fall will help prevent this from happening. Just like gardening guru Ken Brown says, "The cold doesn't kill the evergreens, the bright sun kills them when they can't replace the water. "3) PLANT PERENNIALSIt may not seem like a good time to plant perennials, but the beginning of September is great because the plants often go on sale. Perennials have a month-and-a-half to establish themselves in the ground, according to Brown. "I watch the signs go up and when they say half