The Farmer’s Almanac Has Released Its Winter Forecast. Here’s What Your Region Could Expect
Long-range winter forecasts are starting to roll out across the U.S. for the 2025-26 season. The Farmer’s Almanac this week released its annual winter outlook, offering regional predictions that many travelers and residents watch each August. The forecast is not a day-by-day model, but it does lay out what the publication expects by region over the months ahead.
The forecast is out, and it covers the full U.S.
The Farmer’s Almanac released its 2025-26 winter forecast on August 5, 2025, according to the publication’s seasonal outlook. The forecast covers all 50 states with broad regional zones rather than city-specific snow totals. The almanac said its outlook points to a colder winter in parts of the Plains, Great Lakes, and interior Northeast, while some Southern and coastal areas may see milder stretches.
The publication also outlined where it expects the most active snow and storm patterns. According to the Farmer’s Almanac, areas around the Great Lakes, Upper Midwest, and parts of New England could see more frequent winter weather than regions farther south. The forecast does not include verified seasonal snowfall numbers for each metro area, and the publication has not released a comprehensive city-by-city breakdown.
What your region could expect
For the Northeast, the Farmer’s Almanac said colder periods and snow chances could be more noticeable across inland areas, including upstate New York, northern Pennsylvania, and New England. In the Midwest and Great Lakes, the outlook points to a more active winter pattern, especially near Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Ohio. The publication said lake-effect zones could be among the areas to watch, though it did not provide official seasonal totals for cities such as Buffalo or Cleveland.
For the South, the forecast suggests more mixed conditions, with milder stretches in parts of Texas, the Gulf Coast, and the Southeast. In the West, the publication said mountain areas could still see meaningful snow, while some lower-elevation coastal areas may trend less severe. The Farmer’s Almanac has not confirmed exact timing for major storms in California, Colorado, or the Mid-Atlantic, and local National Weather Service offices have not issued winter-specific long-range storm forecasts this early.
Why this matters, and what readers should keep in mind
The Farmer’s Almanac bases its winter outlook on a proprietary long-range formula that the publication has said includes solar activity, climatology, and weather patterns. The publication has issued seasonal forecasts for more than 200 years, but meteorologists have repeatedly said long-range outlooks published in August carry more uncertainty than shorter-term forecasts issued days in advance. The National Weather Service and NOAA typically provide broader seasonal outlooks later in the year with updated data.
For residents, commuters, and winter travelers, the practical takeaway is that this forecast offers an early regional signal, not a confirmed storm calendar. A forecast released on August 5 cannot verify snowfall in a specific week for Chicago, Atlanta, or Boston months ahead. The clearer picture for holiday travel, ski season planning, and local snow preparation will come as NOAA, the National Weather Service, and local forecasters update winter outlooks through fall 2025.
