Farmers' Almanac Predicts What Winter 2026-27 Has in Store for the US
Newsweek · C · trust 41/100
0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. The Farmers’ Almanac is projecting an uneven 2026-27 winter , with wetter conditions likely across much of the Southern U.S., colder interruptions expected at times across northern regions and a Northeast outlook complicated by the possibility of rain, ice and snow.
In its 2026-27 winter outlook , the publication says El Niño is expected to be a major influence through the heart of the season. That pattern, associated with warmer-than-average waters in the tropical Pacific, can shift the jet stream and often favors wetter conditions across the Southern U.S.
The Almanac’s forecast calls for an active storm corridor stretching from Southern California and the Desert Southwest through Texas, the Gulf Coast and the Southeast. Those areas may see frequent storm systems, muddy conditions and occasional intrusions of cold air. Where that cold air overlaps with plentiful moisture, the forecast says storms could bring sleet, freezing rain or heavy, wet snow.
Farther north, the forecast said much of the West, northern Plains, Upper Midwest and Great Lakes is expected to average close to normal for temperatures. However, the Farmers’ Almanac says those regions should still be ready for short-lived wintry episodes, including fast-moving systems, quick snow events, sudden cold and windy conditions. It added that the central U.S. may have to deal with frequent freeze-thaw cycles.
The Northeast could face "one of the season’s most complicated winter patterns," it cautioned. According to the Farmers’ Almanac, coastal locations are more likely to see rain or mixed precipitation, while inland areas may be more exposed to heavy, wet snow, especially in January and February. The publication cautioned that small changes in storm track or temperature could determine whether individual systems bring rain, ice or accumulating snow.
The Pacific Northwest is expected to have a more variable winter, with snow conditions less dependable than in some years. At the same time, parts of the northern Plains and Upper Midwest could turn drier when the southern storm track becomes dominant, though the Farmers’ Almanac still sees chances for brief but intense episodes of wind, snow and cold.
Overall, the wettest areas are forecast to be from California and the Southwest east through Texas, the Gulf Coast and the Southeast, according to the forecast, which added that a separate storm path along the East Coast could also raise the odds of rain, snow or wintry mix from the mid-Atlantic into New England.
The Farmers’ Almanac says its winter outlook was produced using the publication’s long-standing proprietary formula. It says the method draws on natural cycles, solar activity, lunar influences and historical weather patterns, while also incorporating modern forecasting tools such as satellites, computer modeling and meteorological data.
The Old Farmer’s Almanac, not to be confused with the Farmers’ Almanac, despite the similar name, says that its own forecast for the season is being shaped by several major climate signals, led by El Niño . It says El Niño is officially underway and is expected to strengthen heading into winter, potentially influencing the jet stream and helping determine where rain, snow and colder air track across North America.
NOAA's Climate Prediction Center provides a useful scientific comparison.
Like the Farmers’ Almanac, NOAA expects El Niño to be a major influence during winter 2026-27. NOAA's latest outlook indicates that the event is likely to remain in place through the winter and into early 2027.
NOAA's precipitation forecast also has similarities to the Farmers’ Almanac.
The agency favors above-normal precipitation across parts of the southern United States, including portions of the Southeast, while below-normal precipitation is favored across parts of the Northwest, north-central U.S. and Great Lakes.
The temperature outlook is where the forecasts diverge more noticeably.
NOAA currently favors above-normal temperatures across large portions of the West and East, rather than forecasting a broadly cold winter.
That does not rule out major cold snaps or snowstorms.
A seasonal forecast describes the probability of the average conditions over three months. A winter can therefore finish warmer than normal while still producing several significant snowstorms or Arctic outbreaks.
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