Farmers’ Almanac 2026–2027 Winter Weather Forecast

Farmers’ Almanac 2026–2027 winter forecast calls for a season of snow, sleet, and surprises. When will it snow? Here is your extended winter storm weather forecast with 2026–2027 weather predictions. See detailed long range forecast for your region in 3-day blocks (members-only).

Snow, Sleet, and Surprises

Bundle up and brace yourself. According to the Farmers’ Almanac, winter 2026–2027 is shaping up to be a season of sharp contrasts. El Niño is expected to remain an important influence through the heart of the season, favoring wetter-than-normal conditions across much of the southern United States, while the North sees quick cold snaps, brief snowy periods, and frequent milder breaks.

The season officially begins with the winter solstice on December 21, 2026, but the cold and snow might make an appearance as early as September in some areas of the country. See our Fall 2026 Weather Forecast. A cold snap may keep the December holidays in a winter chill. See 20 early signs of a harsh winter coming.

Regional Outlook

Strong El Niño years follow a recognizable pattern in the United States. The active storm track sets up along the southern tier, funneling Pacific moisture across the Gulf states and up the East Coast. The northern half of the country does not escape winter (cold air still breaks southward in clippers and Arctic shots), but those events tend to be sharper and shorter rather than the week-long deep freezes that define La Niña winters.

For 2026–2027, a very active southern storm track is expected to bring heavier-than-normal precipitation from California and the Southwest eastward through Texas, the Gulf Coast, and the Southeast, with sleet, freezing rain, or heavy, wet snow possible whenever colder air surges in. A second storm path may run along the Eastern Seaboard, bringing rain, wintry mixes, and snow from the mid-Atlantic into New England. Across much of the West, northern Plains, Upper Midwest, and Great Lakes, temperatures should average near normal overall, but that does not mean a mild winter: expect fast-moving clippers, sudden cold snaps, and brief snowy periods, often interrupted by milder breaks.

Zone-by-Zone Forecast

Zone 1: Northeast and New England

States: NY, VT, NH, ME, MA, CT, RI, PA, NJ, DE, MD, DC

The Northeast may face one of the season’s most complicated winter patterns. El Niño’s moisture-loaded southern storm track, plus a second storm path along the Eastern Seaboard, collides repeatedly with cold air funneling down from Canada, and small shifts in storm track and temperature will make the difference between rain, sleet, freezing rain, and accumulating snow. Coastal cities (New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore) could see more rain or mixed precipitation, while inland areas, including the interior and higher elevations of Pennsylvania, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine, may be hit by several rounds of heavy, wet snow. January and February are the months to watch. Be prepared for forecasts to change quickly as storms approach.

Zone 2: Great Lakes and Midwest

States: OH, MI, IN, KY, IL, WI

The Great Lakes snowbelt, running from the eastern shore of Lake Michigan through the south shore of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, will produce its characteristic lake-effect bursts whenever cold air tracks across open water. Cleveland, Buffalo (just over the Zone 1 border), Erie, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan are the primary lake-effect targets. Chicago and Indianapolis will see fast-moving clipper systems delivering brief accumulating snows rather than extended storms. Temperatures should average near normal overall, but that does not mean a mild winter: expect sudden snow squalls, blustery winds, and bursts of bitter cold, frequently interrupted by milder breaks.

Zone 3: Southeast

States: TN, VA, WV, NC, SC, GA, AL, MS, FL

The Southeast sits in the most active part of the El Niño storm track, and the outlook is cool, wet, and stormy. Wetter-than-normal conditions are the headline story, with frequent storm systems and muddy fields through the winter. Snow is not the primary threat for most of the Southeast, but when colder air surges in and meets that moisture, some storms could produce sleet, freezing rain, or heavy, wet snow, most often across the northern tier (Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee, and the western Carolinas). Atlanta residents should keep an eye on the forecast whenever a cold surge coincides with one of the season’s frequent storms. Florida trends cooler and wetter than usual, and northern Florida may see unusual cold snaps during Arctic intrusions.

Zone 4: North Central

States: MO, IA, MN, ND, SD, NE, KS, CO, WY, MT

The North Central region tells the most nuanced story of the winter: cold, snowy at times, and breezy. Temperatures should average near normal overall, but the middle of the country may see frequent swings between thawing and freezing, creating rapidly changing road and field conditions. Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Montana remain vulnerable to sudden snow squalls, blustery winds, and bursts of bitter Arctic cold. The northern Plains could turn drier at times when the southern storm track dominates, though brief but intense periods of cold, wind, and snow remain possible. In the mountains, the southern Rockies, including Colorado’s ranges, may fare especially well for snowfall. Plains snowfall will be variable: clipper systems bring light, blowing snow to the Dakotas and Nebraska, while larger storm systems occasionally drop significant accumulations from Kansas City north to Minneapolis.

Zone 5: South Central

States: AR, LA, OK, TX, NM

Zone 5 sits directly in the El Niño corridor and will feel it: the outlook is wetter than normal and stormy. Frequent storm systems are expected, and the form that precipitation takes (rain, sleet, or freezing rain) depends on how far south cold air can push each time a front moves through. When colder air surges into Oklahoma and northern Texas and meets that abundant moisture, storms can produce sleet, freezing rain, or heavy, wet snow, so Dallas, Oklahoma City, and Tulsa should monitor the forecast closely during cold intrusions. Louisiana, Arkansas, and southern Texas will see heavy rainfall and the possibility of flooding during the wettest systems. New Mexico’s southern desert shares in the wet pattern, and its mountains, part of the southern Rockies, may fare especially well for snowfall.

Zone 6: Northwest

States: WA, OR, ID

The Pacific Northwest may experience a more changeable and somewhat less dependable snow season. Milder stretches mean precipitation in the valleys will often fall as rain rather than snow, and snow in the Cascades, which provide critical spring and summer water supply for the region, may be less dependable than usual. Seattle and Portland should expect a changeable winter, with mild, damp stretches between colder spells. Skiers planning Cascade resort trips should plan for variable conditions.

Zone 7: Southwest

States: CA, NV, UT, AZ

The Southwest is the clearest winner of an El Niño winter, and 2026–2027 should reinforce that pattern. Southern California and Arizona have been in varying stages of drought for several years; the active Pacific storm track this winter delivers above-normal precipitation across both states, with drought-relief totals possible in the hardest-hit areas. Los Angeles, San Diego, and Phoenix should expect a wet winter by their standards, with multiple significant rain events between December and March. Sierra Nevada snowpack, which determines California’s water supply, is the big uncertainty this winter. Snow risk stays low at lower elevations, and how much snow builds in the Sierra and Utah’s Wasatch Range will depend on how cold each Pacific storm runs. Nevada’s lower deserts stay mild and increasingly wet.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When does winter 2026–2027 officially start?

Winter 2026–2027 officially begins with the winter solstice on December 21, 2026, the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. However, meteorological winter (the three coldest calendar months) starts December 1. Cold weather and early snowfall can arrive well before the official start date, particularly in the northern states. The Farmers’ Almanac tracks the full season from late November through March 20, 2027.

Which states will get the most snow in winter 2026–2027?

Under the pattern forecast for 2026–2027, the best chances for heavy snow are in the Great Lakes snowbelts, where sudden snow squalls can develop (Zone 2: northern Ohio, Michigan, and Wisconsin), the interior Northeast, where inland areas may see several rounds of heavy, wet snow in January and February (Zone 1: Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, and upstate New York), and the southern Rockies, which may fare especially well for mountain snowfall. The northern Plains could turn drier at times, though brief but intense bursts of cold, wind, and snow remain possible. Southern and coastal areas will lean more toward rain and mixed precipitation. The Southwest (Zone 7) sees heavier-than-normal precipitation in southern California and Arizona, mostly as rain at lower elevations, while Sierra Nevada snowpack remains uncertain.

What does El Niño mean for winter 2026–2027?

El Niño is a warming of sea surface temperatures across the central and eastern Pacific Ocean. For the United States, El Niño typically shifts the storm track southward, loading the southern tier of the country with extra moisture and storm activity. The current El Niño is strengthening heading into the winter and is expected to remain an important influence through the heart of the season. Expect wetter-than-normal conditions from California and the Southwest through Texas, the Gulf Coast, and the Southeast, and quick cold snaps, sudden snow squalls, and milder breaks across the North.

Will winter 2026–2027 be cold?

Yes, though the character of the cold depends heavily on your region. Across much of the West, northern Plains, Upper Midwest, and Great Lakes, temperatures should average near normal overall, but that does not mean winter will be mild: fast-moving clippers, sudden cold snaps, and bursts of bitter cold are likely, although milder breaks may frequently interrupt the wintry weather. The Southeast leans cool, wet, and stormy, with occasional surges of cold air that can bring sleet or freezing rain. The Southwest runs mild overall. No part of the continental U.S. escapes winter entirely.

Which areas face the worst ice storm risk this winter?

Ice is most likely wherever cold air surges into this winter’s wet southern storm track, particularly across Oklahoma, northern Texas, and Arkansas (Zone 5) and the Missouri Ozarks, where colder air meeting abundant moisture can produce sleet and freezing rain. The Northeast is the other hot spot: small shifts in storm track and temperature there can make the difference between rain, sleet, freezing rain, and snow, and coastal New England faces a rain-versus-snow line that can produce ice. The Virginia–Maryland–Pennsylvania Appalachian region and the Kingston–Ottawa corridor in Canada also carry elevated ice risk.

How does the Farmers’ Almanac predict the weather so far in advance?

The Farmers’ Almanac has used a proprietary long-range forecasting formula since 1818, developed by its founding editor based on correlations between celestial cycles, solar activity (including sunspot cycles), lunar motion, and observed meteorological patterns. The formula has been refined over 200 years but remains rooted in its original methodology. Forecasts are calculated and set into print months before publication, a commitment that has distinguished the Farmers’ Almanac from short-range forecasting services for over two centuries.

What month will be the snowiest in 2026–2027?

January and February 2027 are expected to be the most active months for winter precipitation across much of the country, when inland areas of the Northeast may see several rounds of heavy, wet snow. El Niño remains an important influence through the heart of the season, driving moisture-laden storm systems along the southern tier and up the East Coast. In the Great Lakes snowbelt, January typically marks the peak of lake-effect season. The northern Plains and Upper Midwest could turn drier at times, though brief but intense periods of cold, wind, and snow remain possible. December 2026 serves as a ramp-up month, with cold arriving progressively and the first significant snowstorms setting up by mid-to-late month.

About Farmers’ Almanac Forecasts

For over 200 years, the Farmers’ Almanac has been predicting long range weather forecasts to help you plan ahead.

These forecasts are created using a tried-and-true formula that adapts to the mysteries of nature and the ever-changing world in which we live. The basis of our prediction method was developed by our founding editor according to correlations between celestial events, and various meteorological conditions.

Today this formula uses the original rules set forth back in 1818, but also accounts for fluctuations in the environment on Earth, as well as solar activity (sunspots), the motion of the Moon, and other proprietary factors.

Yes, nature throws us a curveball from time to time, but it doesn’t stop us from going out on a limb to not only predict weather patterns up to a year in advance, but to also put it in print.

Our winter weather forecast for Canada