Get your rubber boots and winter coats ready. The Farmers’ Almanac is predicting a cold, wet “winter whirlwind” this year.
The Farmers’ Almanac has released its extended forecast for the 2024-25 winter season, and it looks grim. The report says much of the country can expect “fast-moving storms” that include rain and snow, with “little respite in between.”
Here’s what you should know about the winter weather forecast for Ohio, according to the Farmers’ Almanac.
What is the fall forecast for the Ohio Valley?
Fall officially begins with the autumnal equinox on Sunday, September 22, and the Farmers’ Almanac fall forecast calls for below-average temperatures for the Ohio Valley region.
While much of the eastern part of the country is expected to see near or above average precipitation in September, drier than average conditions are forecast for the Midwest, including Ohio. Above average precipitation is expected for October.
However, from the Great Lakes to the East Coast and the central and northern Plains, temperatures are expected to rise in November, with precipitation there also expected to be near or below average.
What will winter be like in Ohio this year?
The magazine predicts cold and wet weather for the Ohio Valley and the Midwest. The coldest period of the season will be the last week of January through early February, bringing heavy snow showers and squalls east of the Great Lakes region.
Above-average precipitation is expected across the eastern third of the country, particularly in the Great Lakes, Ohio Valley, and Midwest regions. The almanac indicates that large amounts of snow, rain, sleet, and ice are possible on the following days: January 20-24 and January 27.
What is the two-month forecast for the Ohio Valley?
This is what the remainder of August and September will look like according to the Old Farmers Almanac (not to be confused with the Farmers’ Almanac).
August
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11 – 22 Aug.: Showers, then sunny; becoming warm.
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23 – 28 August: Sunny and warm.
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29 – 31 Aug.: Isolated showers, cooler.
September
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1 – 5 September: sunny, cool, then warmer.
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6 – 7 September: Heavy rain in the west, cool.
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8-12 September: sunny, mild.
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13 – 20 September: Showers, then sunny; cool.
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21 – 30 September: Showers, cool.
When does winter start?
The meteorological winter begins on December 1st and the astronomical winter on December 21st.
When is winter over?
The spring equinox 2025 is on March 20th and signals the end of winter and the beginning of the new season. Meteorologically, spring begins on March 1st.
How does the Farmers’ Almanac make its weather forecasts?
The Farmers’ Almanac’s long-term forecasts are calculated two years in advance and take into account “things like sunspot activity, the tidal effects of the moon, the position of the planets and a variety of other factors,” the almanac’s website says.
The Farmers’ Almanac states that its predictions are 80% accurate, although some experts doubt this statement.
This article originally appeared in the Cincinnati Enquirer: Farmers’ Almanac predicts “cold, wet and white” winter for Ohio
