Farmers’ Almanac US Winter Weather Forecast 2021-2022
From The Farmers’ Almanac Weather Archive –
Extended US Winter Weather Forecast 2021-2022
Grab Your Gloves! Fetch Your Fleece! Winter is going to be a season of flip-flop conditions with notable polar coaster swings in temperatures!
Winter means snow. Or it’s supposed to! Many of our readers wait with snow skis and shovels in hand to see what Farmers’ Almanac is predicting in its long-awaited extended outlook, while others use it as a cue to plan that warm-weather getaway, trading their parkas for pedicures!
Snow Days Ahead
According to the Farmers’ Almanac’s time-tested weather formula, there will be snow, but probably not as much as a snow-sport enthusiasts might dream of. On average, we’ll see near-normal amounts of the white stuff from coast to coast. However, there will be notable month-to-month variations.
January: The Cold, Hard Flakes
Winter’s chill will start gradually. In January, temperatures will start out mild for much of the country but will trend toward colder conditions during the middle to latter part of the month. But overall, the month will be stormy, especially along the Atlantic Seaboard where an active storm track will lead to a stretch of precipitation in various forms: rain, snow, sleet, and ice.
The Great Lakes, Midwest, and Ohio Valley will have more than their fair share of cold and flaky weather in January. The Northern Plains and Rockies will also experience Old Man Winter’s wrath with stormy weather culminating to a possible blizzard later in the month.
What about Texas?
And for our friends in the Southern Great Plains, including Texas and Oklahoma, we are sorry to report that late January may bring some potentially frigid and flaky weather like you experienced last winter. Hopefully, it won’t be as robust, but it doesn’t hurt to be prepared.
As for the Folks Out West…
You will be subjected to some hefty storms moving inland from the Pacific during the second week of January.
Winter Whopper? February’s Flip-Flop Forecast
In sharp contrast, February will average out to be a much quieter month in terms of storminess across much of the nation. In the eastern-third of the country, for example, we calculate that on average there will be 57% fewer days of measurable precipitation compared to January, a significant drop-off. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that storminess will be completely absent.
We’re forecasting a “winter whopper” for parts of the Northeast and Ohio Valley toward the end of February. Another “atmospheric hemorrhage” from the Pacific could lash most of the far West, with everything from strong winds to heavy rains and snow.
March’s Lion, We’re Not Lyin’
March will see close to normal precipitation nationwide. But in a sense, March will be a microcosm of the entire winter. From start to finish, the month will be full of stretches of uneventful weather, but when it turns stormy, the precipitation will come in big doses. For the East and Midwest, for example, a late winter storm will blow in at mid-month followed by a nor’easter along the East Coast toward month’s end.
The “B” Word
We are raising red flags for potent winter storms for the Great Lakes and the Northeast during the second week of January, the final week of February, and second week of March on account of bouts of heavy snow, rain, or a wintry mix of both. A possible blizzard is predicted for the Northern Plains and Rockies near the end of the third week of January.
Seesaw Temperatures
What about cold? Winter temperatures are expected to range from near- to somewhat-below normal across the eastern-third of the nation, well below-normal over the Central US, and near-normal across the western US, especially in February. So, if you’ve been putting off buying those sale long johns or portable hand warmers, you may want to rethink it.
Especially come March, when most parts of the nation will be anxiously awaiting warmer days, the news is not all rosy: they will be few and far between. In fact, around the time of the vernal equinox, which occurs on March 20, unseasonably cold temperatures may grip many parts of the country. As we mentioned, this winter will be doing a lot of flip-flopping, with fluctuating temperatures, and March is no exception.
Farmers’ Almanac Winter Weather Forecast US 2022-23
Farmers’ Almanac Winter Weather Forecast Canada 2022-23
Caleb Weatherbee
Caleb Weatherbee is the official forecaster for the Farmers' Almanac. His name is actually a pseudonym that has been passed down through generations of Almanac prognosticators and has been used to conceal the true identity of the men and women behind our predictions.