A period of below-average temperatures affected much of the contiguous United States, and several records were broken. An early trace of snowfall was recorded in Arkansas. There were greater accumulations of snow across parts of Oklahoma as well.

A quasi-permanent phenomenon referred to as the "polar vortex" may have been partly responsible for the cold weather. Temperatures in much of the United States dropped 15 to 35 °F (8.3 to 19 °C) below average by November 19 following a southward "dip" of the polar vortex into the eastern two-thirds of the country. The effects of this dip were widespread, bringing about temperatures as low as 28 °F (-2 °C) in Pensacola, Florida.

Buffalo, New York received several feet of snow from November 17–21. During the 2014–15 winter season, Boston broke its all-time official seasonal 107.6 inches (2.73 m) snowfall record from the winter of 1995–96, with a total snowfall record of 108.6 inches (2.76 m). Many records for snowfall and temperature were broken for the month of February, with every state east of the Mississippi River being colder than average some for the entire winter.

The Climate Prediction Center is forecasting below normal precipitation across parts of the Great Lakes Region and above normal precipitation across parts of Colorado, New Mexico, Texas and the Deep South.

The Climate Prediction Center is forecasting above normal temperatures across the West Coast and Alaska this spring. They are forecasting below normal temperatures across parts of the southern Plains, Great Lakes Region and Northeast.