Drescription

Neither rain nor snow nor gloom of night will stop us from enjoying the last few bouts of sunshine and warm weather. Once the leaves change color and the air turns cold, winter will be just around the corner. To get ahead of the flurry, we took a glance at the Farmers’ Almanac’s 2024-2025 extended winter weather forecast—and for most of us, it’s going to be a wet and cold one.

Weather is inherently unpredictable, and although meteorologists and weathermen do their best to forecast what’s in the air, it’s impossible to be 100% accurate every time. Farmers’ Almanac claims an accuracy rate of 80% and predicts "weather trends and events by comparing solar patterns and historical weather conditions with current solar activity.” Depending on your geographic location, keep an eye out for these weather patterns, temperature outbreaks, and important dates.

La Niña

La Niña refers to a weather pattern where surface temperatures cool across the central and eastern equatorial pacific region (and lead to a colder winter). While La Niña doesn’t occur every year, it will be present this winter—in fact, Farmers’ Almanac predicts these weather patterns will stay through the season. Thus, winter will be both wet and cold for most locations within the pacific region.

Coldest and Warmest Temperatures

The coldest temperatures will be faced by the Northern Plains, Great Lakes region, and the Pacific Northwest along with cities near the Rockies and Appalachian mountains. New England and the Northeast region of North America will face relatively normal winter weather temperatures. While snow will line many high-elevated regions, sleet and rain will be most prevalent in coastal areas. Similarly, the midwest will experience high levels of precipitation this year, including Ohio Valley and the Great Lakes region. Southwest and central regions will experience lower levels of precipitation.

The warmest temperatures will take place across states like Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, and New Mexico, including the Southeast and Atlantic regions. The Southwest and Pacific Northwest will be in sharp contrast, with southern states experiencing another high-temperature winter and the Pacific Northwest enduring an unseasonably cold one.

Dates to Keep in Mind

Farmers’ Almanac predicts the coldest temperatures to take place during the final week of January into the first week of February, with heavy snowfall and frigid air making their way across the Northern Plains. “We would especially highlight the time frames from January 20 to 23 and 24 to 27, which could mean copious amounts of snow, rain, sleet, and ice (depending on where you live),” the report reads. In Texas and the Northwest, there could be a possible snowstorm taking place at the beginning of February. Make sure you have your coats, scarves, and earmuffs ready to go!