What The Old Farmer's Almanac Predicts For Snow This Christmas

If you've been dreaming of a white Christmas this year, will you get it? According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, probably not. Only very northern states like Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, and the upper parts of Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Illinois likely will get any of the white stuff this holiday.

The Old Farmer's Almanac predicts that most of us will see milder temperatures all around. Other states like Montana and the Dakotas have a chance of snow. Maybe give up hope for a snowman in much of the Atlantic seaboard, the Heartland, South, and Southwest. On the bright side, you don't have to rush outside to protect shrubs from snow. On the other hand, it could be bad news for the garden, since flurries gives the yard an added boost. That's why the Old Farmer's Almanac says that snow is the "poor man's fertilizer." 

Crop researchers at Bayer found that snow contains nitrogen, mostly absorbed from industrial and automotive byproducts in the atmosphere. During one 9-inch snowstorm in South Dakota in 2013, the researchers measured almost a third of a pound of nitrogen per acre and 2 inches of water as well. That means a dry forecast, such as what the Almanac predicts for the Pacific Northwest and for all Gulf states, can be bad news for the garden. Eastern Idaho, too, might miss out on the fluffy white blanket that helps insulate plants from fluctuating temperatures.

The Pacific Northwest won't be the only region missing out on snow's benefits this year. The Old Farmer's Almanac predicts less precipitation this upcoming winter for most of us. There are a few exceptions, of course. That pretty white blanket likely will cover the mountains of New Hampshire and northern parts of Minnesota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin. Cities and towns snuggled up to the Great Lakes might see accumulating snow, thanks to the Lake Effect.

The rest of us, however, probably are out of luck. Even in places like Iowa and eastern Nebraska, no stranger to white lawns, the Almanac casts serious doubt on a blizzard. The periodical, founded in 1792, says New England has a 50-50 chance of snow this year, but Boston only gets a 20% chance in their long-term forecast. You could have a much better chance of seeing flurries if you live in Canada instead of the United States. 

Of course, while you might be disappointed without snowy holidays, remember the upsides to dry weather for the holidays. Travel can be safer, and as a bonus, you won't have to shovel. Less snow also means less cover for voles who might be eating flower bulbs in the garden and could potentially mean fewer pests next spring. If you're curious how often your neighborhood gets a white Christmas historically, search the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Climate Data by city, county or zip code. And don't forget that the accuracy rate for Old Farmer's Almanac predictions is often disputed by weather experts, so checking your local forecast closer to December 25 is always a good idea.