Farmer's Almanac: Winter Weather Ahead For Georgia

ATLANTA, GA — While the Atlanta region has shivered through its share of bitterly cold temperatures and several inches of snow already this winter, recent mild temperatures might make you think the worst is likely behind us, right? Not so fast, warn the folks at The Farmer's Almanac, who say winter isn't done with us quite yet.

The National Weather Service is calling for sunny skies and highs in the 40s on Tuesday, then daytime highs will rebound into the 50s for a couple of days before rains knock temps down. Next week, beginning Sunday, February 4, gusty rains could soak the Southeast, according to The Farmer's Almanac. In early March, look for a repeat of that same type of storm system, it said.

Last August, The Farmers' Almanac released its long-range prediction for winter 2018, singling out the Southeast in particular as an area where it will be cold and rainy. The report called for "below-normal" temperatures in the region, "with an unseasonable chill reaching as far south as the Gulf Coast, with above-average precipitation."

SEE ALSO: Farmers' Almanac Releases Winter 2018 Georgia Weather Forecast

Farmer's Almanac, the iconic publication that's been serving up weather predictions since 1818, said that based on its formula many areas in the U.S. would see "above-normal" precipitation, such as in the Great Lakes and Northeast where snowier than normal conditions were likely. The Farmers' Almanac also is "red-flagging the 2018 dates of January 20-23, February 4-7 & 16-19, and March 1-3 & 20-23 along the Atlantic Seaboard for some heavy precipitation."

"Break out the space heaters, umbrellas, and warm socks, because the Southeast will see below normal winter temperatures with an unseasonable chill reaching as far south as the Gulf Coast, with above-average precipitation," the Almanac's forecast said.

Here is The Farmer's Almanac's predictions for the Southeast region through the end of March 2018:

JANUARY 2018
28th - 31st: Showers, then turning fair.
FEBRUARY 2018
1st-3rd: Sun gives way to increasing cloudiness.
4th-7th: Nor'easter brings widespread heavy snow with accumulations possibly exceeding one foot for the Virginias, the mountains of western North Carolina. Elsewhere, showery/heavy rains, gusty winds.
8th-11th: Intervals of sunshine, breezy with a brief shower of rain/wet snow.
12th-15th: Clouds increase.
16th-19th: Snow (Mid-Atlantic) or rain (Southeast) as a storm sweeps in from the West in time for Presidents' Day weekend.
20th-23rd: Blustery winds.
24th-28th: Fair, dry with less wind.
MARCH 2018
1st-3rd: Another major East Coast storm brings widespread heavy snow with accumulations of 12+ inches for Virginias, mountains of North Carolina. Elsewhere, showery/heavy rains, gusty winds.
4th-7th: Partial sunshine, breezy with perhaps a passing rain or wet snow shower.
8th-11th: Scattered showers
12th-15th: Windy; more showers, then clearing skies.
16th-19th: Consider it a "wintermission" as winter comes to a close; dry with a mixture of clouds, sun.
20th-23rd: Wet snow, sleet (Mid-Atlantic) or rain (Southeast) sweeps in from the West.
24th-27th: Showers Gulf States through Carolinas to Virginia, then fair.

Photo by Patch Editor Kara Seymour