Farmers’ Almanac 2025-26 Winter Forecast: A ‘Wild Weather Ride’ Across the Nation
Summer weather might still be hanging on, but the Farmers’ Almanac has released its much-anticipated Extended Weather Forecast for winter 2025-26, and it’s calling for a season of dramatic swings and widespread wintry weather.
Quick Reference: 2025-26 Winter Forecast
- Headline: ‘Wild Weather Ride’ across the nation.
- Issued: August 2025.
- Northeast: cold and snowy. Above average snowfall.
- Plains: heavy snow events and big temperature swings.
- Southeast: wet with cold snaps.
- Pacific Northwest: milder than average.
- Forecast period: December 2025 through February 2026.
The Farmers’ Almanac dubbed its 2025-2026 winter forecast ‘a Wild Weather Ride Across the Nation,’ issued in August 2025 as part of the 209th edition of the print Almanac. The forecast called for big regional contrasts: a cold and snowy Northeast, heavy snow events in the Plains, wet and cold Southeast, and a milder Pacific Northwest. Here is the full regional breakdown and how the season unfolded.
The Regional Forecast
Major regional outlooks for December 2025 through February 2026:
- Northeast: cold with above-average snowfall. Major storms expected in late December and mid-January.
- Mid-Atlantic: cold with mixed precipitation (snow, sleet, freezing rain).
- Southeast: wet with frequent cold snaps. Possible ice events in the Carolinas.
- Lower Midwest: cold and stormy. Above-average snowfall.
- Upper Midwest: cold but with average to slightly below-average snowfall (storm tracks running south of the region).
- Plains: heavy snow events alternating with big warm-ups. Major temperature swings.
- Southwest: dry and mild.
- Pacific Northwest: warmer than average with average precipitation.
What the ‘Wild Ride’ Means
The Almanac’s editors used ‘wild weather ride’ to flag the expected pattern of rapid temperature swings rather than steady cold. Many regions were forecast to alternate between deep cold (with major storms) and brief warm-ups, with limited stable stretches in between.
The forecast attributed the pattern to a combination of an anticipated La Niña influence, an active jet stream, and longer-term cyclical factors in the Almanac’s 200-year formula.
How the Season Performed
By mid-2026, the season was largely consistent with the forecast. The Northeast saw above-average snowfall (especially January 2026). The Plains experienced heavy storm events. The Pacific Northwest was milder than average.
The Almanac’s self-tracked accuracy for the 2025-26 winter was reported at 82% on temperature, 78% on precipitation.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the 2025-26 winter forecast published?
August 2025, as part of the 209th edition of the print Farmers’ Almanac. The online version was published the same week.
Did the ‘wild weather ride’ actually happen?
Yes, largely. Many regions experienced the alternating cold-storm and warm-up pattern the Almanac described.
How does the Almanac compare to NOAA’s winter outlook?
NOAA uses real-time atmospheric and oceanographic data and updates monthly. The Almanac uses a fixed 200-year-old formula and publishes once. They often agree on broad themes but differ on regional specifics.
Where can I see the next winter forecast?
The Almanac publishes the 2026-2027 winter forecast in August 2026. The latest version is on the Almanac’s long-range forecast page.
This article was published by the Staff at FarmersAlmanac.com. Any questions? Contact us at questions@farmersalmananac.com.
- Farmers' Almanac Staff
- Farmers' Almanac Staff
- Farmers' Almanac Staff
- Farmers' Almanac Staff
Lots of snow. Hooray, the more the better.
I hope this is right!!!!! I love the snow