Key Facts

• El Niño, a weather pattern caused by warmer Pacific Ocean waters, is expected to influence the winter season.
• The Southern U.S. from Southern California through the Gulf Coast to the Southeast is forecasted to have frequent storms and wet conditions.
• Cold air combined with moisture might cause sleet, freezing rain, or heavy wet snow in some southern parts.
• Northern regions like the West, Upper Midwest, and Great Lakes should see near-normal temperatures but should prepare for short cold spells and quick snow events.
• The Northeast could face complicated weather, with coastal areas likely to get rain or mixed precipitation and inland areas possibly receiving heavy wet snow.
• The Pacific Northwest may have a more variable winter with less reliable snow.
• Some northern Plains and Upper Midwest areas might be drier due to the dominant southern storm track but will still face brief intense winter storms.
• The Farmers’ Almanac uses a mix of traditional cycles and modern data like satellites and computer models to make these forecasts.