Old Farmer’s Almanac Predicts a ‘Snowy and Frigid’ Winter for Much of the U.S.
The Old Farmer’s Almanac has released its extended forecast for the winter of 2025-26, predicting above-normal snowfall and below-average temperatures for a important portion of the United States. The Almanac, a longstanding and widely-referenced weather source, bases its predictions on a combination of solar patterns, historical weather data, and current solar activity.
According to the Almanac, the following regions are expected to experience a warmer-than-average winter:
Northeast & Mid-Atlantic – includes Boston; Hartford, Connecticut; New York city; philadelphia; Providence, Rhode Island; Richmond, Virginia; and Washington, D.C.
Lower Lakes – includes Buffalo, New York; Chicago; Cleveland; Detroit; Indianapolis; Milwaukee; Rochester, New York; and Syracuse, New York.
deep South – includes Jackson,Mississippi; Little Rock,Arkansas; Montgomery,Alabama; Mobile,Alabama; Nashville; New Orleans; Shreveport,Louisiana; and Tupelo,Mississippi.
Upper Midwest – includes Duluth, Minnesota; Green Bay, Wisconsin; International Falls, Minnesota; Marquette, Michigan; and minneapolis.
Heartland – includes Des Moines; Kansas City; Omaha, Nebraska; St. Louis; and Topeka, Kansas.
Texas and Oklahoma – includes Dallas; Houston; Oklahoma City; and San Antonio.
High Plains – includes Amarillo, Texas; Billings, Montana; Bismarck, North Dakota; Cheyenne, Wyoming; Denver; and Rapid City, South Dakota.
Intermountain – includes Boise, idaho; Flagstaff, Arizona; Grand Junction, Colorado; Pendleton, Oregon; Reno, Nevada; Salt Lake city; and Spokane, Washington.
Desert Southwest – includes Albuquerque, New Mexico; El Paso, Texas; Las Vegas; Phoenix; and tucson, Arizona.
Pacific Northwest – includes Eugene,Oregon; Eureka,California; Portland,Oregon; and Seattle.
Pacific Southwest – includes Fresno,California; Los Angeles; San Diego; and San Francisco.
Alaska
Hawaii
Conversely, the Almanac forecasts a colder-than-average winter for these regions:
Appalachians – includes Asheville, North Carolina; Elmira, New York; Frederick, Maryland; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Roanoke, Virginia; and Scranton, Pennsylvania.
Southeast – includes Atlanta; Columbia,South Carolina; Raleigh,North Carolina; and Savannah,Georgia.
Florida
* Ohio Valley – includes Charleston, South Carolina; Cincinnati; Louisville, Kentucky; and Pittsburgh.
The Old Farmer’s Almanac claims an 80% accuracy rate with its predictions. However, the Almanac reported a 64% accuracy rate for the winter of 2023-24, attributing the discrepancy to abnormal weather patterns.
The Almanac’s methodology involves ”comparing solar patterns and historical weather conditions with current solar activity,” utilizing disciplines like solar science, climatology, and meteorology for long-range forecasting, according to its website.