Photo: Old Farmer’s Almanac
On the heels of a wild triple La Niña, an El Niñ0, and forecasts for another La Niña this year, it’s been tough to find winter forecasts that use the words “calm” or “gentle.” Those words stuck out when the Old Farmer’s Almanac released its 2024-2025 winter forecast. Although the publication used them to paint a picture relative to North America’s most recent winter seasons.
“This winter, temperatures will be up and snowfall down throughout most of the United States,” reports Carol Connare, the Almanac’s editor-in-chief. “While there will still be plenty of chilly temperatures and snow for most slopes, the high heating costs associated with the season shouldn’t hit so hard. We’re predicting a temperate, uneventful winter – potentially a welcome reprieve from the extremes of recent years.”
Alaska, Wisconsin, Minnesota, New England, New York, Idaho, and Wyoming are areas that are due for a “mild, dry” winter, according to the Almanac. So, skiers and snowboarders in those areas shouldn’t get their hopes up for an all-time season unless they can throw some travel into the mix. Colorado and the Pacific Northwest look to have some of the more favorable forecasts for skiers and snowboarders, where the Almanac calls for a “cold, snowy” season. Meanwhile, there are a couple of select locations further north where the Almanac says we should expect intense winter conditions.
“‘Temperate’ is on tap for most of the country this winter, but let it snow in Ontario! A winter of big freezes and heavy snowfall will be centered in Ontario and eastern Manitoba, while most of the rest of the country will get some relief and reprieve from snow shoveling and super-cold temperatures,” reads the forecast for Canada.
Unfortunately for folks in the Whistler, B.C. area, this doesn’t look great, where the Almanac forecasts a cold, but dry winter. And honestly, where’s the fun in cold and dry winters?
Photo: Old Farmer’s Almanac
