Carol Connare said the Old Farmers' Almanac snow map will not look the same everywhere this year after the publication updated its 2026-27 Winter Forecast on August 31. The revised outlook points to snowier-than-normal conditions in several regions, even as much of the country is expected to stay near or above seasonal temperatures.
Connare, the publication's editor-in-chief, said, "Winter won't look the same everywhere this year," and added, "While much of the country is headed for a milder season, some areas will still see plenty of cold and snow." That split forecast is the core of the update: one broad pattern for most regions, and a different one for pockets that could get heavier snow.
Old Farmer's Almanac Winter Forecast for 2026-27
The updated forecast puts parts of the Northeast, Appalachians, Intermountain Region, Pacific Northwest and Alaska in the group most likely to see a snowy winter. It also says a corridor stretching from central New England through the Appalachians and into the Ohio Valley is expected to face colder-than-normal conditions.
Southern portions of the Northeast are expected to see below-normal temperatures and above-normal snowfall, with especially snowy stretches possible in mid-December, mid-January and possibly in March. The Appalachians are forecast to have below-normal temperatures and above-normal snowfall, especially across northern sections of the region.
Appalachians and Western United States
The harshest winter conditions in the Appalachians are forecast for mid-January and February. The Intermountain Region is expected to be wetter than normal and snowy despite above-average temperatures overall, while the Pacific Northwest is projected to see above-normal precipitation and above-normal snowfall.
In the Western United States, Alaska is projected to receive more snow than average despite above-normal temperatures. The same broader pattern shows up elsewhere too: the Southeast, Deep South, Florida, Texas and the High Plains are forecast to be generally warmer than normal, with snowfall near normal or below normal in many of those areas.
Great Lakes and Upper Midwest
Florida is projected to have above-normal temperatures statewide, and Texas and Oklahoma are expected to experience a warmer and drier-than-normal season. Northern portions of Texas and Oklahoma could still see occasional snow opportunities, even as the Desert Southwest is forecast to be warmer and drier than normal with below-average snowfall in locations that typically receive snow.
Even the Great Lakes and Upper Midwest are expected to be somewhat milder overall, though periods of winter weather are still expected during January and February. For residents in the regions named in the forecast, the practical takeaway is simple: the updated map is not a uniform cold-weather warning, but a region-by-region guide to where snow and colder air are most likely to show up first and most often.
