A book that has been in publication since 1818 has just released their trusted winter forecast, warning millions throughout the US of bitter cold and heavy snow ahead.
The Farmers’ Almanac made their official Winter 2026-2027 predictions this month, calling for a season full of coastal storms and snow in the Northwest and bitter cold and snow in the Midwest and Northern Plains.
Overall, 150 million people across 29 states from Maine to Montana in the northern half of the US are expected to see periods of snow and freezing temperatures between December 2026 and March 2027.
The West, Northern Plains, Upper Midwest and Great Lakes are predicted to see ‘fast-moving clippers, sudden cold snaps and brief snowy periods.’
In the Northeast, a so-called ‘complicated’ winter forecast is unfolding, with the 200-year-old publication predicting coastal areas receiving more rain or mixed sleet and ice.
However, inland areas, such as Pennsylvania, western New York and parts of New England, could get several rounds of heavy wet snow, especially in January and February.
The annual guide has been a trusty resource for gardeners, fishers, farmers and anyone planning outdoor activities since the 19th century, providing seasonal forecasts based on a formula created by founding editor David Young.
The weather prediction model, which the almanac claims has an 80 to 85 percent accuracy record, considers sunspot activity, tidal action of the moon, planetary positions, lunar cycles and historical weather data to come up with each winter’s outlook.
The Farmers’ Almanac is calling for snow across the northern half of the US this winter and said million should brace for ‘bitter cold’
A woman battles cold and snow in New York City in January 2026 (Stock Image)
This winter’s forecast is also calling for more precipitation in the southern half of the US, especially in the Southwest and along the Gulf Coast.
The Farmers’ Almanac predicted: ‘These areas should watch for frequent storm systems, muddy fields and occasional surges of cold air.’
‘When that colder air meets abundant moisture, some storms could produce sleet, freezing rain, or heavy, wet snow. The southern Rockies may fare especially well for mountain snowfall.’
If accurate, that forecast may provide much-needed relief for the western half of the US, which has been suffering through a severe drought, particularly in Colorado.
Conditions have led to vital reservoirs that serve the Southwest dropping to record low water levels, threatening to trigger power outages and drinking water shortages this summer.
The winter prediction noted that the heaviest rainfall will likely come in the Southeast and along the Gulf, in states such as Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas.
The Farmers’ Almanac expects these areas to see higher-than-normal rain total throughout the winter, with the weather phenomenon El Nino heavily influencing this year’s prediction.
El Nino is a natural climate pattern in which the central and eastern Pacific surface temperature becomes significantly warmer than average, flipping weather patterns worldwide.
Whiteout conditions were frequently seen during the 2025-2026 winter season from the West Coast all the way to the Great Lakes (File Image)
While El Nino makes the weather calmer and drier in the Northwest and Northern Plains, it heats the Pacific and pushes the jet stream farther south.
That increases the chances of volatile weather over Southern California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida and the Carolinas.
The Farmers’ Almanac factored this in, predicting ‘near normal’ winter temperatures in the northern half of the US, including in the Pacific Northwest, Northern Plains, Upper Midwest and Great Lakes region.
However, many of these states, including Montana, Wyoming, the Dakotas, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio should brace for ‘sudden snow squalls, blustery winds and bursts of bitter cold.’
Meanwhile, the heavy rain in the Southeast may be joined by a second storm path which moves up the East Coast, impacting the Carolinas, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New York, New Jersey and the New England states.
Since winter temperatures typical hover around the freezing mark for many of these states, the Farmers’ Almanac prediction warned that the 75 million people living along the coast should be ready to change from rain gear to snow boots at a moment’s notice.
‘A slight change in temperature or storm direction could turn a cold rain into an icy mix – or transform a slushy snowfall into a significant winter storm,’ the almanac said.
‘Winter 2026-2027 may be defined by contrasts: an active and wet southern storm track, quick bursts of snow and cold across the North and a particularly unpredictable mix of precipitation in the Northeast,’ the publication declared.
‘Keep the snow shovel, rain boots and ice scraper close at hand. This winter, you may need all three.’
