While it’s not yet cold, the popular Farmer’s Almanac is advising everyone to bundle up soon because this coming winter will bring “freezing, frigid” and snowy conditions for much of the United States.
“Our extended forecast is calling for yet another freezing, frigid, and frosty winter for two-thirds of the country,” the Almanac’s editor Peter Geiger said in a press release Aug. 26.
The Farmer’s Almanac is a periodical from Maine that gives extended weather predictions for the United States and Canada each year. It has been in publication since 1818.
What’s more, there will apparently be a dip in temperatures this winter, with “so many ups and downs on the thermometer, it may remind you of a ‘Polar Coaster,'” according to the publication.
The 2020 edition of the Almanac is predicting that for the upcoming winter in the United States, “the worst of the bitterly cold winter conditions” will hit areas around the Midwest and Northeast.
The biggest dip in temperatures is expected around the northern Great Plains and the Great Lakes, while colder than normal temperatures are being predicted for the Northeast, which includes areas from Washington to Boston.
“Only the western third of the country will see near-normal winter temperatures, which means fewer shivers for them,” the Almanac states on its website.
❄☃????BREAKING: We’ve released our extended forecast for WINTER 2019-20! See who’s in for a wild ride on the #PolarCoaster!
???? https://t.co/6IKGHYKgYI#WintersComing#FarmersAlmanac#Winter2020#winterwx#snowride pic.twitter.com/nt0cBdQBOH— The Farmers’ Almanac (@FarmersAlmanac) August 26, 2019
As for snow, forecasters are predicting higher than normal snow levels over the eastern third of the country, as well as the Great Plains, Midwest, and the Great Lakes.
For the Northeast, they’re predicting “a wintry mix of rain, sleet—especially along the coast,” while normal levels of snow are expected for the Pacific Northwest and Southwest regions.
Last year, the Almanac predicted a “very long, cold, and snow-filled winter,” which turned out to the the case for most of the country.
As predicted, in winter of 2019 much of the United States experienced a so-called “polar vortex,” which brought extremely cold weather such that the USPS was forced to halt deliveries across at least 11 states. Some areas around the Midwest and Great Lakes experienced wind chills of minus 40 to 65 degrees below zero.
The coldest chapter of this coming winter is expected to—similar to the last winter—hit around the last week of January to the start of February, according to the predictions. In particular, Almanac forecasters believe there will be “frequent freefalling precipitation as well as strong and gusty winds. Jan. 4-7 and 12-15 could, depending on where you live, mean copious amounts of snow, rain, sleet, and ice.”
“And for those who live northeast of the Texas Panhandle to the western Great Lakes, watch out for what could prove to be a memorable storm producing hefty snows for the Great Plains during the third week of January. This system will cause temperatures to plummet and drag the coldest Arctic air across the rest of the country into the beginning of February,” they added.
The winter season will also be prolonged across the Midwest, Great Lakes, Northeast, and New England, which means spring will be delayed, according to the Almanac.
Almanac forecasters warn, “Occasional wet snow and unseasonably chilly conditions will hang on for a ride that you may not be able to get off until April!”
The team behind the Farmer’s Almanac say that people find the long-range weather forecasts useful to plan their year, including for budgeting for heating bills, planning vacations, and special events such as weddings.
“Many businesses consult the Farmers’ Almanac’s outlook for their planning as well. And what’s really amazing is that these weather predictions are quite accurate,” the team behind the Farmer’s Almanac asserts, adding that “longtime Almanac followers claim that our forecasts are 80 percent to 85 percent accurate.”
