U.S. Climate by Region: What to Pack and What to Expect (2026)

The United States spans arctic winters, deserts, rainforest and tropics - sometimes within one state. If you are coming to work outdoors, the climate of your worksite matters as much as the wage. Here is what each major region is really like, and what to pack for it.

The Northeast (New York, New England, Pennsylvania)

Four sharp seasons. Summers are warm and humid (often around 30°C / 85°F); winters bring real snow and temperatures well below freezing, especially inland. Landscaping and resort seasons run spring to autumn; ski resorts hire for winter.

Pack: layered clothing, a genuinely warm winter coat if staying past October, waterproof boots, gloves rated for cold work.

The Southeast (Florida, Georgia, Carolinas, Gulf states)

Hot and humid for much of the year - Florida summers combine 33°C+ heat with humidity that makes it feel far worse, plus daily thunderstorms. Winters are mild to warm. This is hurricane country: the season runs June to November, and employers in coastal areas have evacuation procedures - learn them.

Pack: light, breathable work clothes (several sets - you will sweat through them), a wide-brim hat, strong sunscreen, rain gear. Heat illness is the top danger for outdoor workers here; drink water before you feel thirsty.

The Midwest (Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, the Plains)

Continental extremes: humid 30°C summers and brutal winters where -15°C to -25°C with wind chill is normal in the north. Agriculture and construction jobs concentrate in the warm half of the year; meatpacking and warehousing run year-round in heated or refrigerated facilities. Tornado season peaks in spring - know where shelter is.

Pack: for summer arrivals, standard work gear plus rain protection; for anyone staying into November, thermal base layers, insulated boots and a serious coat. Winter clothing is cheaper to buy in the U.S. at Walmart or secondhand stores than to fly over.

Texas and the Southwest (Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada)

Desert heat is its own category: Phoenix and Las Vegas regularly exceed 40°C in summer, but it is dry heat - sweat evaporates instantly, so dehydration sneaks up on you. Nights can be genuinely cold in the desert. Texas is huge and varied: humid like the Southeast near Houston, dry and windy in the west.

Pack: long sleeves (counterintuitively - sun protection matters more than bare skin), electrolyte awareness, lip balm, moisturizer. Outdoor construction often shifts to dawn starts in summer for safety.

The West Coast (California, Oregon, Washington)

California alone contains several climates: cool foggy coast, hot dry Central Valley (the agricultural heartland, 38°C+ in summer), and mountains. Oregon and Washington west of the mountains are mild but famously rainy from October to May; their east sides are dry. Wildfire smoke can affect air quality in late summer - employers must provide protection when air quality drops severely, and N95 masks help.

Pack: layers above all. A Central Valley farmworker and a Seattle warehouse worker need entirely different kits - check your specific city, not the state. A hoodie plus a rain shell covers most Pacific Northwest days better than one heavy coat ever will.

Mountain states and Alaska

Colorado, Utah, Montana and Wyoming: dry, sunny, cold winters, cool nights even in summer, and altitude that leaves newcomers breathless for the first week - drink extra water. Ski resorts are major H-2B employers here. Alaska's seafood industry hires seasonally for summer runs; expect cool, wet conditions and very long daylight.

The universal packing list

• Work boots that are already broken in - blisters in week one are misery.
• Phone with a weather app; U.S. weather changes fast, and severe weather alerts (tornado, flood, heat) come through phones automatically.
• One presentable outfit for banks, church or meetings.
• Copies of documents in a waterproof pouch.
• Any specialty gear your trade requires - but check first; employers must provide most required safety equipment.

Climate also drives the job calendar itself: northern seasons are short and intense, southern seasons long. Matching your availability to the right region's season is half the game - our guide to H-2B seasonal jobs explains how those seasonal windows work.

Whatever climate suits you, employers there are looking for workers now. Create your free profile on Workmerica - free, no credit card, and employers contact you directly.