El Nino is predicted to bring a stormier winter to the South and a potentially drier winter to parts of the North. (Photo by Paul Campbell/PA Images via Getty Images)
The Farmers Almanac has released its 2026-2027 winter forecast, calling for more frequent storms for some parts of the U.S. and a potentially drier than normal season for others.
The periodical says El Niño, a term for warmer than average water across the equatorial Pacific, will be an "important influence" this winter.
South and Desert Southwest
The forecast predicts an "active storm track" that could span from Southern California and the Desert Southwest through Texas, the Gulf Coast and the Southeast. That could mean more sleet, freezing rain and snow for those regions and higher than average snowfall for the southern Rockies.
What they're saying:
"These areas should watch for frequent storm systems, muddy fields, and occasional surges of cold air," the Farmers Almanac says.
Northern Plains and Upper Midwest
The almanac forecast predicts the northern Plains and Upper Midwest could be drier at times, "especially when the southern storm track becomes dominant." Still, intense cold, wind and snow are possible, with clippers, sudden cold snaps and snowy periods likely.
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Temperatures should be near average for the season.
The central part of the U.S. could experience "frequent swings between thawing and freezing, creating rapidly changing road and field conditions."
Pacific Northwest
According to the almanac, the Pacific Northwest could be in for a "less dependable" snow season. El Niño typically brings warmer temperatures and drier conditions with below-average mountain snowpack to the Pacific Northwest.
Northeast
The Northeast forecast calls for one of the "most complicated" weather patterns this winter, with inland areas being hit by several rounds of heavy, wet snow and coastal communities getting more rain or mixed precipitation.
"Small shifts in storm tracks and temperatures could make the difference between rain, sleet, freezing rain, and accumulating snow," the almanac predicts. "Residents should be prepared for forecasts to change quickly as storms approach."
In the mid-Atlantic and New England, a second storm path may bring more opportunities for rain, sleet and snow.
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