Farmers' Almanac predicting a cold, snowy winter ahead

The Farmers' Almanac is sounding the alarm for a harsh winter ahead, warning readers to prepare for a season marked by "chill, snow, repeat."

The Ozarks are among the regions being highlighted for potentially very cold temperatures and frequent snowfalls this winter.

How Accurate Is the Farmers' Almanac?

The Farmers' Almanac has been publishing long-range weather forecasts for over 200 years. Its predictions are based on a combination of astronomical events and various meteorological conditions. However, it's important to approach these forecasts with a healthy dose of skepticism.

The almanac often uses broad and vague language, which increases the chances of aligning with general seasonal conditions.

For instance, it’s no surprise to hear the Pacific Northwest described as “chilly and wet” or the Midwest as “cold and snowy” in January. Those are already safe assumptions based on regional climate norms.

Last winter, the Farmers' Almanac predicted “cold temperatures with average snowfall.” If I were to grade that forecast, I’d give it a solid B-.

Winter 2024–25 started off unusually warm in December, but colder conditions settled in as the season progressed. Overall, temperatures ended up fairly average.

Snowfall, on the other hand, told a different story. Springfield recorded 15.4 inches, well above our typical seasonal average.

What Should We Expect This Winter?

While it’s still too early to release a full winter outlook, especially with fall yet to arrive, I still want to provide some insight into what I expect for the winter.

Last winter was influenced by a weak La Niña, which contributed to milder temperatures and increased chances for snowfall.

Right now, we’re seeing signs of a gradual transition into an El Niño pattern, though progress has been slow.

At this point, it appears likely that we’ll be in either a weak La Niña or a neutral phase this winter. If that holds true, we can expect conditions similar to last year: a relatively average winter in terms of temperature, with the potential for above-average snowfall once again.