What Will Winter 2020 Bring? According to Old Farmers Almanac
The Old Farmer’s Almanac Long Range Weather Forecasts show deviations from normal temperatures and above average precipitation amounts for some areas.
The Old Farmer’s Almanac uses a unique, age-old formula that’s traditionally 80% accurate to predict weather conditions….they say…. The weather forecast methodology stems from a secret formula that was devised by Robert B. Thomas in 1792, when George Washington was president. Thomas believed that weather on Earth was influenced by sunspots, which are magnetic storms on the surface of the Sun.
Over the years, the company has refined and enhanced that formula with state-of-the-art technology and modern scientific calculations. To calculate the weather long-term, the company uses three scientific disciplines to make predictions:
- solar science, the study of sunspots and other solar activity;
- climatology, the study of prevailing weather patterns; and
- meteorology, the study of the atmosphere.
From there they predict weather trends and events by comparing solar patterns and historical weather conditions with current solar activity.
What Does Winter 2020 Hold?
Here’s what the Farmer’s Almanac is saying:
- Northeast Region (CONNECTICUT, MAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK and VERMONT): Winter will be milder than normal, on average, with above-normal precipitation and near- or below-normal snowfall. The coldest periods will be in early to mid-January, late January and early February. The snowiest periods will be in mid-November, mid- to late December and early and late January.
- Appalachian Region (MARYLAND, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK NORTH CAROLINA, PENNSYLVANIA, TENNESSEE, VIRGINIA and WEST VIRGINIA): Winter will be warmer than normal, with above-normal precipitation. Snowfall will be below normal in the north and above normal in the south. The coldest periods will be in mid-January and from late February into early March. The snowiest periods will be in late November, mid- and late January, early February and early March.
- Lower Lakes Region (ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MICHIGAN, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA and WISCONSIN): Winter will be warmer than normal, with above-normal precipitation. The coldest periods will be in early December and early to mid-January, from late January into early February and in late February. Snowfall will be above normal in Ohio and below normal in most other areas. The snowiest periods will be in early to mid-January, from late January into early February and late February into early March and in late March.
- Upper Midwest Region (MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, NORTH DAKOTA, SOUTH DAKOTA and WISCONSIN): Winter temperatures will be above normal, on average, with slightly below-normal precipitation and near- to above-normal snowfall. The coldest periods will be in early and mid-January, from late January into early February, in late February and in early and mid- to late March. The snowiest periods will be in early and mid-January, early February, and early and mid-March.
- Heartland Region (ILLINOIS, IOWA, KANSAS, MISSOURI, NEBRASKA, SOUTH DAKOTA and WISCONSIN): Winter temperatures will be below normal, on average, with above-normal snowfall and slightly above-normal precipitation. The coldest periods will be in early to mid-January, early and mid-February and early March. The snowiest periods will be in early to mid-December, early to mid-January and mid-February.
- High Plains Region (COLORADO, KANSAS, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEW MEXICO, NORTH DAKOTA, OKLAHOMA, SOUTH DAKOTA, TEXAS and WYOMING): Winter will be milder than normal in the north and colder than normal in the south, with slightly above-normal precipitation. The coldest periods will be in mid-December and early January and from late January into mid-February. Snowfall will be above normal in the north and below normal in the south, with the snowiest periods in early January, early to mid-February and early March.
- Intermountain Region (ARIZONA, CALIFORNIA, COLORADO, IDAHO, MONTANA, NEVADA, NEW MEXICO, OREGON, UTAH, WASHINGTON and WYOMING): Winter temperatures will be above normal, on average, in the north and below average in central and southern portions of the region, with the coldest periods in mid- to late December and early January and from late January through the first half of February. Precipitation and snowfall will be above normal, with the snowiest periods in mid- to late December, early and late January, early February and early and late March.
- Pacific Northwest Region (CALIFORNIA, OREGON and WASHINGTON): Winter will be warmer and rainier than normal, with below-normal snowfall. The coldest periods will occur in mid- to late December, early and mid- to late January, mid-February, and mid- to late March. The snowiest periods will occur in mid-December and early and mid- to late January.
- If you’re in the deep south and want to see your chances of snow, click here.
Not exactly breaking news that it’s going to snow a more in November to January but these early predictions still give you an idea of what to expect this winter.
Here at GSM we are expecting the precipitation to be above normal, well beyond what the Old Farmers Almanac Projects. There are many variables at play. It will be interesting how this all pans out!! Stay tuned for more updates as we progress into the next cold season!