What The Old Farmer's Almanac Predicts For The Upcoming Winter

Who doesn't want advanced knowledge on what the season ahead will bring? Considering how helpful this information could be for everything from plant care to travel plans, it's no surprise that "The Old Farmer's Almanac," not to be confused with "The Farmer's Almanac," has been in publication since 1792. Over the years, its famous long-range weather predictions have been consulted not just by farmers, but also by those who are curious about what to expect from the winter ahead. So it's no surprise that many people are excited and relieved by its 2025 to 2026 winter forecast, which largely promises a mild winter. In theory, this could allow some of us to try to plant a winter vegetable garden. 

"The Old Farmer's Almanac" predicts largely average temperatures and snowfall throughout much of the United States, but speculates that it will be a drier winter than average in much of the country. They also break their forecast down into regions and note that some areas are exceptions to the overall trend. For example, they expect areas like Florida to experience colder and wetter than average weather. Similarly, they predict that other parts of the Southeast will also have temperatures that are colder than they typically are.

While "The Old Farmer's Almanac" doesn't share the exact proprietary formula it uses for creating its long-range forecast, it uses a mix of meteorology, climatology, and solar science. The publication's founder, Robert B. Thomas, was particularly interested in how sunspots and other solar phenomena could impact weather. The result is a system for predicting something that feels unpredictable, but at least it might help with preparing for the unknown future.

As "The Old Farmer's Almanac" notes, just because the winter may be milder doesn't mean you can skimp on your winter weather preparedness. You should still get those snow tires put on and winterize your flower pots. Additionally, you need to provide winter care for your perennial plants. 

The folks at "The Old Farmer's Almanac" say their forecasts are only about 80% accurate, though many climate scientists suspect that the predictions are even less accurate than that. Some experts, such as climatologist Nick Bond, estimate that "The Old Farmer's Almanac" is only accurate around half the time. Either way, that hasn't stopped their winter weather forecasts from being big news for centuries now.