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Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- Climate
- Hindustan Times
Cold snaps, heavy snow and wet spells; Farmers' Almanac unveils long-range winter forecast
If the Farmers' Almanac is on the mark, the US might want to dig out the snow shovels a little earlier than usual next year. The 200-year-old publication has dropped its extended forecast for winter 2025–2026, and the theme is basically: 'chill, snow, repeat.' According to 10TV, editors say wintry weather could show up as early as September in parts of the country - well before the season officially starts on December 21. December itself is not looking much warmer. The forecast hints at a cold holiday season from coast to coast. Farmers' Almanac predicts an early, snowy 2025–2026 winter.(AP FILE ) Where the deep freeze could hit hardest According to the Almanac, the coldest zones will stretch from the Northern Plains all the way to New England, with the Pacific Northwest - including Idaho and Washington - also feeling the sting. Frequent snow is on deck for New England, while the Atlantic Coast could face a messy mix of snow and rain. The Great Lakes, Ohio Valley, and North Central states are looking at what the forecast calls a 'classic winter wonderland.' Mountain areas in the Pacific Northwest may see huge snow totals. Down South, the picture shifts. The Southeast should have near-average temperatures and plenty of wet spells, with some snow possible in northern and Appalachian spots. The Mid-Atlantic could get its share of snow, especially in higher elevations. Also read: Old Farmer's Almanac prediction for Fall 2025 across the US revealed Wet spells for the South, cold snaps for everyone Texas and the Southern Plains are bracing for a wetter-than-usual season with cold rain, occasional freezing precipitation, and a shot at snow in the north. The Southwest should expect a wet winter, too, but temperatures there may hover closer to normal. The Almanac warns of two standout cold snaps - one in mid-January, another in mid-February - that could keep much of the country bundled up well into 2026. How they make the call As reported by 10TV, the Farmers' Almanac uses a proprietary method devised by its mysterious forecaster, known only as 'Caleb Weatherbee.' Editor Sandi Duncan says Weatherbee has been at it for about 30 years, relying on lunar cycles, solar activity, tides, and certain wind patterns in the stratosphere. Modern meteorologists do not exactly buy into this approach. Today's forecasts lean on satellite data, heat maps, and complex computer models - not century-old formulas. But that has not stopped the Almanac from making calls months, even years, ahead. FAQs When does the Farmers' Almanac predict winter will start in 2025? Some areas could see snow and cold as early as September. Which areas will be the coldest? Northern Plains, New England, and parts of the Pacific Northwest. Will the Southeast see snow? Possibly in northern and Appalachian regions. What is the Almanac's forecasting method? It uses a proprietary formula based on lunar cycles, solar activity, tides, and wind patterns. Are the predictions always accurate? Accuracy varies, and modern meteorology often disputes such long-range forecasts.
Economic Times
5 hours ago
- Climate
- Economic Times
Farmers' Almanac winter 2025–2026 forecast predicts 'wild weather' across the US, but accuracy is in question
Synopsis The Farmers' Almanac projects a 'wild weather ride' for the 2025–2026 US winter, with cold snaps, snowstorms, and wetter conditions in the South. While the publication has a long history, studies show its forecasts are only about 50 per cent accurate, raising questions about its reliability for long-term weather predictions TIL Creatives The Farmers' Almanac's 2025–2026 winter forecast predicts widespread cold snaps, snowstorms, and wetter conditions in the South, though studies show the publication's long-range weather predictions are only about 50 per cent accurate (AI generated image) The Farmers' Almanac's latest extended forecast projects 'a wild weather ride across the nation' for winter 2025–2026. The outlook calls for 'consistent cold snaps' from the Pacific Northwest to New England and periodic snowstorms across the Pacific Northwest, the Great Lakes, the Northeast, and the forecast also predicts wetter-than-average conditions across the southern half of the United States, with cold or freezing precipitation possible in Texas. The publication's press release summarized the season in three words: 'Chill, Snow, Repeat.' Also read: Old Farmer's Almanac Fall 2025 predictions are here for USOther projected events include frigid blasts 'from the Northern Plains to northern New England' in January and February, and potential snowstorms in North Carolina and Tennessee into late February or early March, according to editor Sandi Duncan. Snow is also forecast for northern Texas in December and February.'We don't think the cold and snow that some southern areas saw last year will repeat, but we do see some wild swings in the temperatures that will keep our winter [on] the 'Snow, Chill, Repeat' loop and may surprise some folks with wet snow that shows up instead of rain,' Duncan said. Founded in 1818, the Farmers' Almanac uses a proprietary formula involving celestial observations and historical weather patterns. However, research has questioned its reliability. A study by John E. Walsh and David Allen, published in the 1981 edition of Weatherwise , found that the Farmers' Almanac and the Old Farmer's Almanac were correct on temperature forecasts 50.7 per cent of the time and precipitation forecasts 51.9 per cent of the time. 'It's more like a crapshoot of trusting something that far into the future since there are times the forecast is blown in the first 24 hours,' said Rich Segal, meteorologist at Nexstar's Gottschalck, chief of the Operational Prediction Branch at NOAA's Climate Prediction Center, told Nexstar that predicting specific weather events months ahead is not possible. The NOAA instead offers seasonal outlooks showing probabilities for above or below-average temperatures and precipitation, without detailing exact Farmers' Almanac highlighted accurate elements of its 2024–2025 winter forecast but cited 'La Niña' for missing a predicted late-January cold spell and overestimating precipitation. Also read: Weather Update: Thunderstorm alert in Chicago, storms and rainfall likely in Houston; check the full forec'While no forecast can claim perfect accuracy, our predictions have proven useful for generations of planners and outdoor enthusiasts,' Duncan said. 'We continuously refine our method but acknowledge that Mother Nature always has the final say.'
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Climate
- Time of India
Farmers' Almanac winter 2025–2026 forecast predicts 'wild weather' across the US, but accuracy is in question
Live Events Accuracy of Farmers' Almanac forecasts remains debated (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel The Farmers' Almanac's latest extended forecast projects 'a wild weather ride across the nation' for winter 2025–2026. The outlook calls for 'consistent cold snaps' from the Pacific Northwest to New England and periodic snowstorms across the Pacific Northwest, the Great Lakes, the Northeast, and the forecast also predicts wetter-than-average conditions across the southern half of the United States, with cold or freezing precipitation possible in Texas. The publication's press release summarized the season in three words: 'Chill, Snow, Repeat.'Also read: Old Farmer's Almanac Fall 2025 predictions are here for US Other projected events include frigid blasts 'from the Northern Plains to northern New England' in January and February, and potential snowstorms in North Carolina and Tennessee into late February or early March, according to editor Sandi Duncan. Snow is also forecast for northern Texas in December and February.'We don't think the cold and snow that some southern areas saw last year will repeat, but we do see some wild swings in the temperatures that will keep our winter [on] the 'Snow, Chill, Repeat' loop and may surprise some folks with wet snow that shows up instead of rain,' Duncan in 1818, the Farmers' Almanac uses a proprietary formula involving celestial observations and historical weather patterns. However, research has questioned its reliability. A study by John E. Walsh and David Allen, published in the 1981 edition of Weatherwise, found that the Farmers' Almanac and the Old Farmer's Almanac were correct on temperature forecasts 50.7 per cent of the time and precipitation forecasts 51.9 per cent of the time.'It's more like a crapshoot of trusting something that far into the future since there are times the forecast is blown in the first 24 hours,' said Rich Segal, meteorologist at Nexstar's Gottschalck, chief of the Operational Prediction Branch at NOAA's Climate Prediction Center, told Nexstar that predicting specific weather events months ahead is not possible. The NOAA instead offers seasonal outlooks showing probabilities for above or below-average temperatures and precipitation, without detailing exact Farmers' Almanac highlighted accurate elements of its 2024–2025 winter forecast but cited 'La Niña' for missing a predicted late-January cold spell and overestimating read: Weather Update: Thunderstorm alert in Chicago, storms and rainfall likely in Houston; check the full forec 'While no forecast can claim perfect accuracy, our predictions have proven useful for generations of planners and outdoor enthusiasts,' Duncan said. 'We continuously refine our method but acknowledge that Mother Nature always has the final say.'
The Hill
7 hours ago
- Climate
- The Hill
Farmers' Almanac predicts ‘wild weather' in winter outlook. Is it accurate, though?
(NEXSTAR) – The editors of the Farmers' Almanac are predicting 'a wild weather ride across the nation' in their latest extended forecast. That doesn't necessarily mean any of it is going to happen, though. Among the 'wild' weather events forecasted for winter, the Farmers' Almanac predicts 'consistent cold snaps' from the Pacific Northwest to New England; frequent or periodic snowstorms in the Pacific Northwest, the Great Lakes, the Northeast and even the Mid-Atlantic; and wetter-then average weather in the southern half of the country, with cold, sometimes freezing precipitation in and around Texas. In its press release, issued Monday, the Farmers' Almanac summed up the 2025-2026 winter season for much of the U.S. in three words: 'Chill, Snow, Repeat.' Why your phone's weather forecast can be way off Other predictions include blasts of very frigid weather 'from the Northern Plains to northern New England' in January and February, and possible snowstorms in North Carolina and Tennessee as late as late February/early March, Sandi Duncan, the editor of the Farmers' Almanac, told Nexstar. Bouts of snow may also be in the cards for northern Texas in December and February, according to the almanac. 'We don't think the cold and snow that some southern areas saw last year will repeat, but we do see some wild swings in the temperatures that will keep our winter [on] the 'Snow, Chill, Repeat' loop and may surprise some folks with wet snow that shows up instead of rain,' Duncan said. How accurate is the Farmers' Almanac? The Farmers' Almanac, established in 1818, develops its forecasts using a somewhat secret formula involving celestial bodies and past weather patterns. But like the Old Farmer's Almanac (a separate publication), it hasn't always been the most accurate predictor of upcoming weather events, according to researchers. A study conducted by John E. Walsh and David Allen, published in the 1981 edition of Weatherwise, showed that only 50.7% of both almanacs' historical temperature forecasts and 51.9% of their precipitation forecasts panned out correctly. 'It's more like a crapshoot of trusting something that far into the future since there are times the forecast is blown in the first 24 hours,' Rich Segal, meteorologist at Nexstar's KXAN, previously explained. Jon Gottschalck, the chief of the Operational Prediction Branch at NOAA's Climate Prediction Center, had also told Nexstar that forecasts which claim to predict specific weather events months ahead of time cannot be considered reliable. 'It's just not possible to do that,' Gottshalck said. Military walks back plan to axe forecast data The NOAA's Climate Prediction Center does, meanwhile, share its own long-range seasonal outlooks (e.g., forecasts for the chances of above or below-average temperatures, precipitation), although those outlooks do not attempt to predict specific weather events. The editors of the Farmers' Almanac, still, touted the accurate aspects of its previous winter outlook (2024-2025) in a blog post published in July. But they blamed 'La Niña' for the absence of a 'cold spell' at the end of January 2025, and less wet weather than they had originally predicted. 'While no forecast can claim perfect accuracy, our predictions have proven useful for generations of planners and outdoor enthusiasts,' Duncan said. 'We continuously refine our method but acknowledge that Mother Nature always has the final say.'
Indianapolis Star
15 hours ago
- Climate
- Indianapolis Star
Farmers' Almanac winter forecast for 2025-2026: A long season of cold, snow across US
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. 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. More weather news: Hurricane forecasters eye 'significant tropical threat' in the Atlantic: What to know 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. 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. 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. 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 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. 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." 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. 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 & @ & @mikesnider & msnider@
