Winter Weather Forecast 2021
from The Old Farmer’s Almanac
Light Winter for Many, Colder in the West
Every year, folks ask us … what’s the winter forecast? Without further ado, here is a sneak peak at our famous long-range weather predictions from The 2021 Old Farmer’s Almanac edition—including the winter maps for all of the U.S. and Canada.
Good maps, certainly, but not our complete forecast. For that, you’ll need a copy of The 2021 Old Farmer’s Almanac, which can now be found in local stores across North America. Or, order a copy from the comfort of your easy chair at TheAlmanacStore.com.
Will it be a snowy winter? Will it be an exceptionally cold winter? How bad a winter is it going to be? We’ve highlighted our regional weather summaries below to give you an idea of what kind of winter we’re going to have in the 2020-2021 season—and why.
What’s Shaping the Weather this Year?
Solar Cycle 25 is now underway. Cycle 24 was the smallest in more than 100 years and possibly the smallest since the Dalton Minimum in the early 1800s, while Cycle 25 is expected to also bring very low solar activity. Although such minimal activity has historically meant cooler temperatures across Earth, we believe the recent warming trends will dominate in the eastern and northern parts of the nation this winter, with only the Southwest being colder than normal. Most of Canada will have a cold and snowy winter. However, rising temperature trends mean that the winter will not bring extreme cold; instead, it will be closer to normal
U.S. Winter Weather Forecast 2020-2021
If you were hoping for a reprieve from harsh winter weather this year, we have some news that just might make you smile. We’re predicting a light winter for most of us here in the United States, with warmer-than-normal temperatures in the forecast for a large part of the country.
Uncommonly chilly temperatures will be limited mostly to the western states and northeastern New England. Specifically, winter will be colder than normal in Maine; the Intermountain, Desert Southwest, and Pacific Southwest regions; and eastern Hawaii and above normal elsewhere.
On the precipitation side of things, expect “wet” to be a wintertime constant, with rain or average to below-average snowfall to be the standard throughout most of the country.
Specifically, precipitation will be below normal from Delmarva into North Carolina; in the southern Appalachians, Georgia, and Florida from the Ohio Valley westward to the Pacific and southward to the Gulf and Mexico; and in western Hawaii and above or near normal elsewhere.
Snowfall will be greater than normal in the Northeast, Wisconsin, Upper Michigan, the High Plains, and northern Alaska and below normal in most other areas that receive snow.
Order Your U.S. 2021 Almanac Here
Canadian Winter Weather Forecast 2020-2021
The 2021 Old Farmer’s Almanac Canadian Edition is calling for below-normal winter temperatures through most of the country. However, it’s still winter and expect frigid and frosty weather!
The exception will be in Atlantic Canada and the Prairies, which will experience above-normal temperatures.
Precipitation will be above normal in all of the Commonwealth. Snowfall will be much greater than normal from Quebec westward through most of the Prairies and close to normal elsewhere.
So, while the Atlantic Canada and the Prairies may feel some relief from winter’s chill, they–like the rest of the country—will see lots of rain, snow, and sleet.
Areas from Alberta eastward to Quebec should brace for a virtually continual “Snow Train” that will be carrying a series of winter storms throughout the season.
Comments
Mathew Colfer
January 5, 2021 - 4:16am
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Earths Climate
Thank you
Mimi West
January 3, 2021 - 11:05am
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Couldn’t be further from the truth
I live in Bismarck ND. We have NO snow on the ground. In fact this has been the driest warmest winter since we moved here 8 yrs ago. The Almanac is totally WRONG about our weather here. No snow (N to S)from New Town to New England. Or (E to W) from Belfield to Bismarck/Lincoln. No snow !!!!! Very sad situation.
Teresa Fox
January 14, 2021 - 1:36pm
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Weather
Mimi,
That is why they are called PREDICTIONS! Nobody knows exactly. They can only predict the future based on past experiences. Do you have a crystal ball I can borrow?
Sara
December 31, 2020 - 4:11pm
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Winter Lower Lakes - again
So far, the OFA forecast for my area (Lower Lakes, 8 miles south of IL/WI state line) has been accurate. We had a slop storm - snow and rain mix that turned to snow, and was quite sloppy. Yesterday (12/30/2020), late in the day, I checked one of my favorite DNR parks near the state line, a place that has a very large fishing lake and is very popular, and the geese were landing in great numbers there on a large open water spot - literally several hundred geese by the time I got there - and more were parachuting in when I got there. Went out again this morning at 7:30AM and waited for a little more light and got a large number of good photos, and the numbers of geese had increased after I left yesterday. It has been warmish here all fall and now into winter and this was our first snow, but it was mixed with rain, too. The NWS forecast coincides with the OFA's prognostication so far.
While parts of northeastern Illinois did get hammered a little bit (more snow than rain), it has, as OFA predicted, been more wet than snowy, and that's fine. The ground needs the moisture.
Looking forward to Spring, when the trilliums bloom!
David DiSandro
December 27, 2020 - 8:32pm
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Weather
When will Rhode Island get the snow it had on Dec 17th again?
Matt
December 26, 2020 - 1:33pm
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Most Accurate Weather Predictions
Been using the Almanac to determine how long my snowmobile season could last in Northern Ontario. So far this year it has been pretty accurate but seasonal temps overall have been getting warmer. Previously, people who lived in Ontario's capital Toronto had green Christmas's and mild winters. Now its flipped where they are getting our snow blizzards and deep freezes in spite of there being over 300 km's of distance between our cities. The Almanac predicted that December would be a flip-flop of cold temps and snow for a few days then warmer temps with rain. More precipitation than cold weather when we need the cold first then the snow.
Jean
December 23, 2020 - 7:11pm
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Will it snow in Mandeville Louisiana
My weather app says it may snow Tomorrow on Christmas Eve 2020. Is this true
Sara
December 19, 2020 - 3:50pm
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Winter forecast for Lower Lakes
I'm 8 miles south of the IL/WI state line in the northeastern corner of IL. So far, the winter weather has been pretty much as OFA's forecasters said it would be. I check the National Weather Service's daily report, which offers a weekly forecast. and their forecasts on a weekly basis are essentially the same as the more-generalized OFA long-term forecast. And no, I do NOT miss having to shovel snow off my sidewalk or front steps. Not one bit. :)
The geese were still showing up in early December, and some have stuck around because where there is open water and plenty of food, they won't leave until they have to. I have seen this for the past 15 years, so it is nothing new. If they decide to go on to the flyways, they either take off heading eastward, toward that flyway, or west toward a more central flyway, to join the other flocks.
I have plenty of photos recording what they do, been doing this for the past 15 years. If this continues to be a very mild winter in my area, with little to no ice on the local lakes and ponds, it's very possible that the grasses they like, which grow in abundance in my area, will keep them here until they decide to go elsewhere.
I'm waiting to see if those that went on southward will show up again at specific spots next spring. Looking forward to it.
Fatimah
December 16, 2020 - 6:10pm
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Winter weather In Rhode Island
How's the winter going too be this year??
Benjamin Guthrie
November 22, 2020 - 10:19pm
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Winter
Will we have a bad winter in Elkmont Alabama
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