The Old Farmer’s Almanac Winter Forecast 2023–2024: Get Ready for a Winter Wonderland

Guess what? It will snow this winter, I can promise you that. Yay! But what we all want to know is, how much and where? Well, the Old Farmer’s Almanac (not to be confused with the Farmers’ Almanac) has just released its long-range winter weather forecast for the 2023/24 season. For over 230 years, the Almanac has been helping readers prepare for winter’s worst with its 80 percent–accurate weather forecasts.

• Related: Farmers’ Almanac 2023/24 Winter Forecast: A Return Of Traditional Winter Weather: The Brrr Is Back!

Check out its full forecast below, including regional summaries:

The Old Farmer’s Almanac 2023-2024 Winter Forecast

Here at the <emAlmanac, we are long-term planners and prognosticators! Winter arrives this year on December 21, 2023. On the winter solstice, those of us who live in the Northern Hemisphere are tilted as far away from our Sun as possible. Winter brings cooler weather, the joy of winter sports, curling by the fire, and the holiday spirit. It also brings shoveling, snow blowing, dealing with bad roads, and sometimes unbearable temperatures. What will winter bring this year??

A WINTER WONDERLAND!

The 2024 Old Farmer’s Almanac predicts snow, seasonable cold, and all of winter’s delights! This winter’s forecast is sure to excite snow bunnies and sweater lovers alike, promising a whole lot of cold and snow across North America!

Snowfall will be above normal across most snow-prone areas (except for the Pacific Northwest). Get prepared for oodles of fluffy white throughout the season! Keep a shovel at the ready early, especially in the Northeast and Midwest, where snow will arrive beginning in November with storms, showers, and flurries continuing through the start of spring.

Along with above-normal snow, we’ll see normal to colder-than-normal temperatures in areas that typically receive snow. Expect just the right amount of chill in the air for an afternoon of adventurous snow sports or enjoying a big ol’ mug of hot cocoa by a crackling fire. Only snowy New England and the Atlantic Corridor will enjoy winter temperatures which are milder than what’s typical for their regions.

REFRESHING RELIEF

Wetter-than-usual weather is coming to the southern portions of the Deep South, Texas, and California, with potentially drought-quenching rain. As the winter map shows, much of the U.S. coastline, from New England down to Florida across the Gulf Coast to the Pacific Southwest, will experience mild to cool temperatures.

SWEATER WEATHER

This is the theme for the coastline of the Pacific Northwest, which will be relatively dry and cold throughout the season. While storm clouds will typically deliver rain, snow is possible for late December and mid-January.

The Old Farmer’s Almanac, which has been issuing its 80 percent–accurate forecasts since 1792, can be found anywhere books and magazines are sold starting on August 29, 2023.

What Influences This Winter Forecast

We are approaching the middle of Solar Cycle 25, which is increasing in its intensity and already as strong as Solar Cycle 24, which possibly had the lowest solar activity in about 200 years. Such low activity has historically meant cooler-than-average temperatures across Earth, but this connection has become weaker since the last century.

The expected El Niño has emerged and should gradually strengthen into the winter. El Niño is a natural climate phenomenon marked by warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean. Typically, El Niño conditions result in wetter-than-average conditions from southern California to along the Gulf Coast and drier-than-average conditions in the Pacific Northwest. We also expect a warm Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) and cool Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO). Also important are the equatorial stratospheric winds involved in the Quasi-Biennial Oscillation, or QBO.

Under certain combinations of meteorological conditions, the polar vortex can be displaced from the North Pole, which could open the door for cold blasts to hit southern Canada and the central and eastern United States during this upcoming winter.

Regional Forecasts

Look below for the regional forecast summaries for the 18 U.S. regions. You can find weekly details for all 12 months of the year in The 2024 Old Farmer’s Almanac.

Region 1: NORTHEAST

Will There Be Snow? Yes! Precipitation and snowfall will be above normal. The snowiest stretches occur in mid-to-late November, mid-December, and early to mid-January. There will be a white Christmas in the mountains, but it’s less likely in the foothills and along I-95.

How Cold Will Winter Be? Winter temperatures will be above normal. The coldest periods will occur in mid-to-late November, early to mid-January, and early to mid-February.

Region 2: ATLANTIC CORRIDOR

Will There Be Snow? Yes! Winter precipitation and snowfall will be above normal (2 to 3 inches above monthly averages). The snowiest periods will occur at the end of December, late January, and mid-February. We don’t expect a white Christmas.

How Cold Will Winter Be? Winter temperatures will be above normal overall. Specifically, December is slightly above average temps; temperatures for January and February are below average. The coldest spell will run from late January into mid-February.

Region 3: APPALACHIANS

Will There Be Snow? Expect above-normal precipitation and snowfall. The snowiest spells will occur in late December, mid- to late January, and early to mid-February. We expect a white Christmas in the higher terrain of West Virginia in the north, but not elsewhere in the region.

How Cold Will Winter Be? Winter temperatures will be below normal overall. December temperatures are just 1 degree below average; January and February temperatures are 3 to 4 inches below average, respectively. The coldest period will run from early January through mid-February.

Region 4: SOUTHEAST (Region 4)

Precipitation: We expect a wet winter with above-normal precipitation and snowfall for the Southeast (most of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia). The best chances for snow occur in late January and mid-February. We do not expect a white Christmas.

Temperature: Unlike much of the U.S., the Southeast will have a mild winter with above-normal temperatures overall. The coldest periods will arrive in late December and early and mid-February.

Region 5: FLORIDA

Precipitation: Winter rainfall will be above normal for most of Florida, so expect a wet winter along with those mild temperatures. The southern end of Florida will be drier-than-normal but remember that’s all relative in a tropical climate! We don’t expect a white Christmas.

Temperature: Florida’s winter temperatures will be milder than normal this year—great news for all those snowbirds! The coolest temperatures occur in late December, late January, and early February.

Region 6: LOWER LAKES

Will There Be Snow? Snowfall will be above normal, with the snowiest periods will occur in late December through most of January and in mid-February. There will be a white Christmas from New York westward to Wisconsin, but it’s not as likely south of I-90.

How Cold Will Winter Be? Winter will be colder than average for the Lower Lakes. The coldest periods will fall in early and late December and from January all the way through mid-February.

Region 7: OHIO VALLEY

Will There Be Snow? We’ll see above-normal precipitation and snowfall overall. The snowiest periods will be in late December through mid-January and late January through mid-February. Christmas week may be mild but snow’s expected in much of the region that week!

How Cold Will Winter Be? Winter will be colder than normal. The coldest spells will occur in late December, early January, and late January through mid-February.

Region 8: DEEP SOUTH

Precipitation: Precipitation will be above normal, coming mainly in the form of rain given temperatures in the mid- to high ’40s. The highest threats of snow in the north are in mid- and late January and mid-February. We do not expect a White Christmas.

Temperature: Winter will be colder than normal in the north and warmer than normal in the south, with the coldest periods in late December, early January, late January, and early February.

Region 9: UPPER MIDWEST

Will There Be Snow? Precipitation in the form of snowfall will be above normal. The snowiest periods will be in late November, mid- to late December, mid-January, and early February. Expect a white Christmas this year!

How Cold Will It Get? Winter temperatures will be below normal, with average temperatures in January and February of 8°F. The coldest periods fall in mid- to late November, most of December, early and late January, and early February.

Region 10: HEARTLAND

Will There Be Snow? Precipitation and snowfall will be slightly above average. The snowiest period will occur late December and early to mid-January. Expect a white Christmas this year!

How Cold Will It Get? Winter will be colder than normal. The coldest periods fall in early and late December, early and late January, and early February.

Region 11: TEXAS-OKLAHOMA

Will There Be Snow? Precipitation is leaning above normal; it is not extreme. The best snow chances are in the north in late December and late January. We do not expect a white Christmas across the region, though possible snow in the north.

How Cold Will Winter Be? Winter will be colder than average in the northern part of the region. In the south, temperatures will be slightly milder than normal. The coldest periods will occur in early and late December, early and late January, and mid-February.

Region 12: HIGH PLAINS

Will There Be Snow? Precipitation and snowfall will be slightly above normal, with the snowiest periods in late November, mid-December, and mid-January. There will be a white Christmas, but mainly north of I-70.

How Cold Will Winter Be? But it will be extra cold! Winter temperatures are well below average overall, with the coldest periods in late November, late December, and early to mid-January, as well as early February in the north only.

Region 13: INTERMOUNTAIN

Will There Be Snow? Yep, it’s a whiteout! We’re looking at above-normal snowfall. The snowiest periods will be in mid-to-late November, early and late January, and mid-February. Expect a white Christmas!

How Cold Will Winter Be? Winter will be colder than normal in December (4° below average) and January (4° below average), although February will be just slightly below average. The coldest periods will be in early and late November, late December, and late January.

Region 14: DESERT SOUTHWEST

Precipitation: Precipitation will be above normal, as will snowfall in most areas that normally receive snow. The snowiest periods are expected to occur in mid- to late January and mid-February. There will be a white Christmas in the highest terrain of central Arizona, but not elsewhere in the region.

Temperature: Overall, in the Desert Southwest region, we’re looking at a winter that’s cooler than normal. The coldest periods will be in late November, early and late December, and late January.

Region 15: PACIFIC NORTHWEST

Will There Be Snow? Though famous for its consistently heavy precipitation, our forecasts for the Northwest call for a drier-than-normal winter, thanks largely to this year’s winter El Niño. The snowiest periods will occur in mid- to late December and mid-January. Expect a white Christmas across the mountains and foothills, but not along coastal locations.

How Cold Will Winter Be? Winter temperatures will be colder than normal. The coldest periods will occur in mid-November, late December, and mid-January.

Region 16: PACIFIC SOUTHWEST

Precipitation:A strong El Niño means winter will be wetter than normal, with above-normal mountain snow. The stormiest, wettest periods will be in early and late January, early to mid-February, and mid-March. There will be a white Christmas across the Sierra Nevada mountains, but not in the valleys or along the coast.

Temperature: Winter will be colder than normal throughout the region. The coldest temperatures will occur in early and late November, early and late December, and late January.

Region 17: ALASKA

Precipitation: This winter, precipitation will be slightly below normal. Snowfall will be normal to slightly above normal, with the snowiest periods in late November, mid-December, mid- to late January, and early March. Expect a white Christmas!

Temperature: Winter temperatures will be milder than normal in Alaska overall. Specifically, temperatures are 4° above average in December, 5° above in January, and 3° below in February. The coldest periods occur in mid-December, late January, and early to mid-February.

Region 18: HAWAII

Precipitation: Rainfall will be above normal this winter season. Expect the stormiest periods in early November in the east and early January and mid-February throughout. Who needs a white Christmas when you have that aloha spirit?

Temperature: Winter temperatures will be slightly milder than normal in Hawaii. The coolest periods will fall in mid-December through early January and early February.

More Than Weather

After you come in from the cold, you’ll find The 2024 Old Farmer’s Almanac perfect for cozying up with plenty that’s “useful, with a pleasant degree of humor,” including…

• When oceans bring snow: Ocean currents move atmospheric moisture, which affects the location and strengths of storms. As these currents slow, weather all over the planet is impacted, sometimes in extreme ways that may extend across centuries.
• Gardening for everyone (even those who don’t): Learn about the easiest garden edible that most aren’t growing (hint: it’s a key ingredient in baked goods), plants that go up in an actual puff of smoke, and the gardening trends blooming in 2024, including scratch-and-sniff plants and the continued push for no-lawn landscapes.
• Recipes for breakfast lovers: Enjoy fun facts about “warm cakes” while making blueberry buttermilk pancakes or traditional latkes, then try out a recipe for the hands-down, absolutely best bread for toast. It takes 18 hours, but it’s worth it! (Really.)
• Anecdotes & Pleasantries from Almanac readers: step-by-step instructions for hypnotizing your own foot, the protocol for when Groundhog Day goes horribly wrong, and a scientific study that settles the long-debated question of “What is America’s favorite pie?” (hint: it’s not apple).
•  Stories that only the Almanac can tell: cures for colds, aches, and pains in a world of hurt; “mad” angling advice; nature’s creepiest wild things; memorable Olympic moments; the origin of Arlington National Cemetery; tips on how to enjoy 2024’s total solar eclipse; and much, much more!

Pick Up a Copy

• The 2024 Old Farmer’s Almanac is available for just $8.99 wherever books and magazines are sold. A full list of stores that carry The Old Farmer’s Almanac is available at Almanac.com/Wheretobuy.
• You can also find a soft cover bookstore edition with 32 supplemental pages in bookstores including Amazon.com.
• Plus, visit our Almanac.com General Store for the both the classic paperback with the hole as well as our hardcover collector’s edition.