Farmers' Almanac on winter 2023-2024: 'Brrr' with more snow, cold temperatures across US (2024)

  • The Farmers' Almanac for 2024 forecasts an upcoming winter with more snow and cold temperatures.
  • Even before the official start of winter, blizzards could hit New England, North Central states and parts of New Mexico, Oklahoma and Arkansas.

After last winter’sunusual weather, the upcoming winter season should be more conventional with cold temperatures, snow and damp conditions, according to theFarmers' Almanac.

In its 207th edition, out now, the Farmers' Almanac is forecasting "The 'brrr' is back" with "more snow and low temperatures nationwide,” wrote editor Pete Geiger in a statement accompanying the extended forecast.

“After a weird and warm winter season last year, this winter should make cold weather fans rejoice – especially those in the Great Lakes, Midwest, and northern New England areas," he said.

Blizzards will usher in an early winter in December, according to the Almanac's forecast, with northern New England, the North Central states, and northern and central areas of New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Arkansas all likely encountering blizzard conditions.

Farmers' Almanac on winter 2023-2024: 'Brrr' with more snow, cold temperatures across US (1)

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Did the Farmers' Almanac get its winter prediction right last year?

Not exactly, although we could cut the outlet some slack because of the wild weather across the nation. Last year, the Almanac predicted a cold snowy winter for the East and dry conditions for the West.

But California had nine atmospheric rivers. Tornadoes were sighted in Illinois and Iowa in January, while during that month the Northeast had record warm temps. And despite a balmy February forecast for the East, Mount Washington, New Hampshire, recorded the nation's coldest wind chill ever.

The end of La Niña, a weather phenomenon that increases cold and snow in the Northwest and dry conditions in the South, "is one of the reasons we believe winter last year turned out warmer than normal," wrote the Almanac's managing editor Sandi Duncan in a statement.

The Almanac had expected a third La Niña winter, but "by February, it had virtually collapsed. The West turned wet, and the contiguous US ended up with its 17th-warmest winter on record," the Farmers' Almanac said.

The Farmers' Almanac, which originated in 1818, says its longtime fans claim the publication's weather predictions are accurate approximately 80-85% of the time. It uses "a top-secret mathematical and astronomical formula, taking sunspot activity, tidal action, the position of the planet, and many other factors into consideration," the Almanac states.

For winter 2023-2024, the Almanac takes into account the strengthening of El Niño, which should result in more moisture and storms in the southern U.S., its editors said.

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Should you trust the Farmers' Almanac? Well ...

Weather forecasters annually prepare for media requests about the accuracy of almanacs, including The Old Farmer's Almanac, which was founded in 1792 and plans to release its winter forecast on August 29.

"They attract attention and get people talking about it. But a lot of times what they do is use general phrases that are true most any year," Russ Schumacher, a professor and climatologist at Colorado State University, told the Coloradoan last year.

"What does 'glacial and snow-filled' for our area mean? Is that we get a few days of really cold weather and some snow? That happens pretty much every winter.''

AUniversity of Illinois studyfrom 2010, cited by Popular Mechanics in an October 2022 story, found The Old Farmer's Almanac only about 52% accurate over the years, "which is essentially random chance," the news site wrote.

That doesn't make The Farmer's Almanac any less interesting. Here's a closer look at its regional winter forecasts.

The Farmers' Almanac forecast for the Northeast and New England

  • Forecast for Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington D.C.: Those living along the East Coast "who saw a lack of wintry precipitation last winter … should experience quite the opposite, with lots of rain/sleet and snowstorms to contend with," the Almanac forecasts. In January, the second week "will be stormy, snowy, and wet for both the Pacific Coast and the Eastern States," it forecasts. Then, during the second week of February, "an East Coast storm affecting the Northeast and New England states will bring snowfall, cold rain and then frigid temperatures." The first week of March, the Almanac forecasts, "another East Coast storm will bring a wintry mess to this area." Come spring, during the third week of April, a "possible late-season snowfall" is expected "over the high terrain of New England."

Great Lakes, Ohio Valley and Midwest

  • Forecast for Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin: January and February should bring lower than average temperatures and lots of "snowstorms, sleet, ice (and) rain" around the Great Lakes and Midwest, the Almanac forecasts.

Southeast

  • Forecast for Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia: Florida and the rest of the Southeast "will see a wetter-than-normal winter, with average winter temperatures overall, but a few frosts may send many shivers to snowbirds trying to avoid the cold and snow back home," the Almanac forecasts. In mid-February, the Southeast will experience "unseasonably cold temperatures," and during the first week of March "another East Coast storm will bring a wintry mess to this area."

North Central

  • Forecast for Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming: This winter, the Great Plains and Rockies can expect "plenty of cold temperatures and occasional bouts of storminess, bringing widespread rains and snows," the Almanac forecasts. During the first week of March, "potential blizzards … will remind folks in the North Central states that winter isn’t over yet," it forecasts.

South Central

  • Forecast for Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas: During the middle of January, South Central states can expect "lots of cold temperatures and some storms," the Almanac forecasts. Texas can expect "unseasonably cold weather" during January and February, "with a possible major winter storm in mid-January."

Northwest

  • Forecast for Idaho, Oregon and Washington: "An unusually snowy and wet winter" is forecast for the area, according to the Almanac. Heavy mountain snows are expected the first week of February in the West, including the mountains on the Pacific Coast.

Southwest

  • Forecast for Arizona, California, Nevada and Utah: An El Niño could lead to "copious amounts of rain and snow across the entire Southwest," the Almanac forecasts. The Pacific Coast can expect a "stormy, snowy, and wet" second week of January followed, in the first week of February, by "heavy mountain snows" that will cover the western U.S., it forecasts.

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Farmers' Almanac on winter 2023-2024: 'Brrr' with more snow, cold temperatures across US (2024)

FAQs

Will Wisconsin have a snowy winter? ›

As the cold air blows across Wisconsin and the Midwest, heavy snow showers are predicted to bring "intense bursts of snow." The almanac forecasts above-average precipitation throughout the winter in the Great Lakes and Midwest.

How accurate is the farmers almanac winter prediction in 2023? ›

How Accurate Was the 2023–2024 Winter Forecast? Our accuracy in forecasting the direction of precipitation departure from normal for a representative city in each region was 83.3%.

What Farmers almanac predicts wet stormy winter with frigid temperatures in northern US? ›

The Farmers' Almanac is predicting a wet and windy winter season. The trusted publication warns that winter 2024/25 is shaping up to be what they're calling a "wet whirlwind," meaning there will be a lot of precipitation and storms depending on where you live.

Will there be snow in Texas in 2024? ›

For central Texas, the best snow chances will be in early and late February. In the southwest, snowfall could be above normal in the areas that usually receive snow, with the snowiest periods in mid-December and early February.

What will winter 2024 be like in Minnesota? ›

"It's cold in the Upper Midwest, but winter 2024-2025 will NOT be as cold as usual," the almanac says. "The coldest shots will occur in early November, early and late January, late February, and early March."

What year did Wisconsin get 100 inches of snow? ›

Record snows in Wisconsin

Record season snowfall-Madison: 101.4 inches during the winter of 2007-2008. (About 114 inches fell on Madison during the 1880-1881 winter, but that number is unofficial).

What is the winter forecast for 2024 in the USA? ›

This winter, they're calling for wet and windy weather for the winter of 2024-2025. "Taking into account the effects La Niña has on the weather, along with our long-standing formula, we anticipate the winter of 2024-25 will be wet and cold for most locations," the almanac's website predicts.

What is the difference between the Farmers Almanac and the Old Farmer's Almanac? ›

The Farmers Almanac was first printed in 1818 by David Young. It varies from the Old Almanac by predicting weather 16 months in advance (versus 18 months) for seven climate zones in the U.S. and for five zones in Canada. That's quite a few less than the Old Farmers Almanac (18 U.S. regions and 7 in Canada).

Who is more accurate, Noaa vs Farmers Almanac? ›

While NOAA releases seasonal outlooks much closer to the time frame they're predicting (such as releasing the winter outlook in mid-October), the forecasts are still subject to changes for accuracy, while the almanacs are set in stone once they're published.

What is winter 2025 going to be like? ›

Will There Be Snow? Expect lots of moisture with a wetter-than-normal winter throughout the entire state of California, with above-normal mountain snowfall. The stormiest periods will be in mid-December, early January, and mid- and late February.

Will it be a cold winter in Florida in 2024-2025? ›

We're predicting a temperate, uneventful winter — potentially a welcome reprieve from the extremes of recent years.” Most of Florida is expected to experience a cooler winter than usual for the most part; that includes the length of the state from Jacksonville to Miami, plus Tampa and Orlando.

What area of the United States is predicted to get more precipitation in the winter and spring? ›

In winter and spring, the northern part of the country is projected to become wetter as the global climate warms.

What is the winter forecast for the Midwest in 2024-2025? ›

The Great Lakes, Ohio Valley and Midwest region (Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin) can expect periods of wet snow and rain to begin in early November, with "frigidly cold" temperatures through Nov. 11. Rain and wet snow continues to Thanksgiving, with a drier forecast toward the end of the year.

How accurate is the Old Farmer's almanac? ›

Questionable Accuracy: While the Almanac claims an 80% accuracy rate and has made notable predictions, studies show it is only 52% accurate, making it unreliable for precise, long-term forecasts compared to modern meteorology.

Will it snow in February in Texas? ›

February is typically when Texas sees its most extreme winter weather temperatures. Back in 2021, inches of snow blanketed South Central Texas, marking an usual winter weather event. 2021 marked a wild winter for the Alamo City.

Why is Wisconsin not getting snow? ›

The unseasonal warmth is likely due to climate change and a weather event called El Niño, when rising temperatures in the Pacific Ocean cause a warmer winter and less snowfall. It also means a dry winter. A dry El Niño winter could prolong the effects of drought conditions in a third of the state.

What is the snowiest month in Wisconsin? ›

Winter (December – February):

Snow is common, with an annual average snowfall of around 45-50 inches, most of which occurs during these winter months. Snowstorms and occasional blizzards can be expected, with January typically being the snowiest month.

What is the summer prediction for Wisconsin in 2024? ›

The Climate Prediction Center's Seasonal Temperature Outlook for June, July and August 2024 predicts a 33% to 50% chance that average temperatures will be above normal in Wisconsin, with the highest chances for above-normal temps in the northeastern portion of the state, including the Green Bay and Door County areas.

What city in Wisconsin gets the most snow? ›

Between 1996 and 1997, Hurley achieved the record for snowfall in one winter, with 277.7 inches of snow falling during the season. In 2021, however, the snowiest cities in the state include Ashland, Superior, Rhinelander, Rothschild, Wausau, and Kronenwetter.

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