Farmers' Almanac winter forecast for 2025-2026: A long season of cold, snow for Virginia

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After winter 2024-2025 brought record-breaking snowfall and dangerously cold temperatures to parts of the U.S., an "old-fashioned winter," as forecast by the Farmers' Almanac may be welcome news for farmers – and the rest of us, too.
The 209th edition of the Farmers' Almanac, out now, forecasts "Chill, Snow, Repeat" weather patterns for the upcoming 2025-2026 winter season.
The cold and snow may not reach as far south as last year, but the Northern Plains to the New England are likely in for a cold, snowy winter, "hopefully not as brutally cold as last," Farmers' Almanac Editor Sandi Duncan told USA TODAY.
"Most of the country is on tap for a cold or very cold winter, kind of almost going back to an old-fashioned winter," Duncan said. "It's going to cool down, it's going to snow, then it might warm up a little, then it's going to repeat itself again."
Even though the upcoming winter may not bring a repeat of last year's prolonged bone-chilling temperatures, the upcoming season's expected weather cycle means "this winter's shaping up to be a wild ride," the Almanac predicts.
Wintery effects may begin in late fall as cold winter temperatures could "sneak in a little bit early in many of the northern sections," Duncan said.
While winter doesn't officially start until Dec. 21, "we do see some very cold conditions, kind of blowing in with some possible snow in some areas," she said. "I think the greatest chance of a White Christmas would be out in the northern Plains, perhaps, but not too many other places."
Winter could linger, too. "It looks like it's going to hang on for a little bit through March and even through April … especially in New England, Great Lakes and the northern Plains," Duncan said.
Did the Farmers' Almanac get its winter weather prediction right last year?
In part, the Almanac proffers, mentioning in the new edition how its winter 2024-2025 forecast "for a mild winter in Texas and the Southern Plains hit the mark, and we correctly called the cold weather over the Northern Plains and Great Lakes."
The Almanac also notes, "We also accurately forewarned of a very cold spell at the end of January," perhaps referencing some of winter 2024-2025's milestones including the arctic air mass that contributed to cold weather advisories that month. "But La Niña threw a curveball, leaving us with fewer wet weather events than expected," the Almanac said.
February also brought dangerously cold temperatures but overall, the contiguous U.S. had the third warmest winter on record, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, with an average temperature of 34.1 degrees F, 1.9 degrees above average.
There's a chance a La Niña winter could be in store, according to the Climate Prediction Center. That could mean cold and snow for the Northwest, dry conditions in the South, and higher-than-average temperatures in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic.
The Farmers' Almanac creates its forecasts "using a proprietary formula that adapts to the mysteries of nature and the ever-changing world in which we live," this edition notes. "The basis of our prediction method was developed by our founding editor according to correlations between celestial events and various meteorological conditions."
While scientists may question the accuracy of The Farmers' Almanac – and the competing The Old Farmer's Almanac – the guide, which includes planting tips and an astronomical calendar, remains an interesting read.
Here's a closer look at its regional winter forecasts.
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Northeast, New York: 'Active time' for storms in late January
Winter in the New England and the Northeast region (Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont) will include a "cold snap" around Jan. 8-15, especially in New England, but "leaking down into some of the more northern Mid-Atlantic states," Duncan said.
New England, along with the Northern Plains, is expected to bear the brunt of the season's coldest temperatures, according to the Almanac.
In mid-January, the Almanac expects "some pretty good snowstorms in Pennsylvania and New Jersey and southern New York … (and) then again in February, between the 8th and the 11th, we're calling for some very cold conditions, with some heavy snow in northern New England."
Milder temperatures in early March will be followed by colder temperatures and cold, gusty winds in the middle of the month, the Almanac says.
Midwest, Ohio, and Michigan: 'Big freeze' in January
In the Great Lakes, Ohio Valley, and Midwest region (Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin), New Year's Day will bring chilly, breezy temperatures; northern Michigan and Wisconsin can expect snow.
As in the Northeast, the region will get cold temperatures "perhaps blowing down from the north, especially in Indiana and northern Michigan," Duncan said. "And we're calling for a pretty big snowstorm" in the Great Lakes region from February 8-11. As the snow gives way to very cold temperatures there, snow moves into Kentucky and Ohio. The beginning of March brings snow to most of the region. The month ends with brisk, windy conditions, plus snow in the north.
Northwest: Rain and wet snow for Idaho, Oregon and Washington
Good news for skiers in the Northwest region (Idaho, Oregon and Washington) because there's overall chilly and wet conditions expected this winter. "the wet conditions obviously in the mountains are going to help that snow pack … (for) skiing," Duncan said.
The Pacific Northwest's mountains "are gearing up for some impressive snowfall totals," the Almanac says.
For coastal Washington in the middle of February and March, "we're calling for a lot of wet conditions, especially along the coast," with rainstorms, Duncan said.
North Central states, Colorado: 'More like winter'
The North Central states (Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming), along with the Great Lakes region, "are set for a classic winter wonderland," the Almanac says.That means the region can expect a "very cold and snowy" winter, Duncan said. Snowstorms are expected mid-February in Kansas and Nebraska and in mid-March in the Central Plains.
Easter may even bring light snow to the Dakotas and Minnesota, while it will be chilly but clear in Iowa, Kansas, and Missouri.
Southeast, Florida: 'Mild and wet' winter
Winter is expected to bring average temperatures and wet conditions in the Southeast states (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia), according to the Almanac.
The second week of January will bring "some very cold temperatures with some possible wintry precipitation, in the more northern areas, such as the mountains of West Virginia and Virginia," Duncan said.
February will also be "a very wet period, especially from the 16th to the 20th, then turning mild at the end of February, but unsettled in many places," she said. "So just very wet, I would say, is the focus."
Texas, South Central: Another winter snowstorm predicted
Cold and wet conditions are expected this winter in the South Central states (Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, New Mexico) and Texas, too. "We don't see too much snow, but we're feeling like some of these more northern areas in this region may have icy rain and the cold conditions, so you might want to make sure you have deicer and your boots ready," Duncan said.
Northern Texas could get snow and freezing rain in mid-January and snow again in mid-February and mid-March, according to the Almanac. Mild weather will arrive as the month of March nears its end.
California, Southwest: 'Fair, dry, very chilly' Christmas
Southwest states (Arizona, California, Nevada \, and Utah) are forecast to have average temperatures and wet conditions – weather that could help prevent a repeat of the January wildfires in California, Duncan said.
California is expected to get rain ahead of windy conditions at the end of January. "Hopefully it will be enough moisture in the air in California that we don't see anything crazy like it was last year," Duncan said.
Overall, the region should have a "nice winter with not too many extremes," she said.
Contributing: Doyle Rice, USA TODAY
Mike Snider is a national trending news reporter for USA TODAY. You can follow him on Threads, Bluesky, X, and email him at mikegsnider & @mikegsnider.bsky.social & @mikesnider & [e-mail]
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2026 Farmers' Almanac forecast predicts long, cold winter
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