Long-Term Forecast For Winter In NJ: Official Gov't Prediction

NEW JERSEY — Another day, another long-term prediction for the upcoming winter in New Jersey. But this time, it's the official government forecast.

Meteorologists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have released their winter forecast for 2019-20. And the news is good if you don't love the cold and snow.

The official government prediction is for a warmer than normal season in New Jersey, with more precipitation than average.

Not a single section of the United States is expected to have colder than usual temperatures this winter, but some areas will experience more rain.

“Wetter than average conditions are most likely in Alaska and Hawaii this winter, along with portions of the Northern Plains, Upper Mississippi Valley, the Great Lakes and parts of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast,” the agency said in it 2019-20 winter forecast, which it released last week.

The government organization stays away from projecting seasonal snowfall accumulations as snow forecasts are generally impossible to predict until the week prior.

Even during a warmer than usual winter in New Jersey, though, periods of cold and snowfall are still possible.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration isn’t the only organization that’s released a 2019-20 prediction, but consensus can be hard to find when it comes to weather.

Followers of the Farmers’ Almanac for instance, are bracing for a snowy, bone-chilling season. Meanwhile, forecasters at the rival Old Farmer’s Almanac are predicting more rain than snow.

The two meteorological publishers have almost identical names, but their long-range forecasts could not be more different.

The Farmers' Almanac says that New Jersey will have a "frosty, wet, and white" winter.

The Old Farmer's Almanac, meanwhile, says that this winter will be "wet and wild."

Both outfits use so-called “secret formulas” to predict the weather that they keep closely guarded, and only time — and winter — will tell which one has it right.

Patch's Cold Weather Shopping Checklist:

• Electric Heated Throw Blanket
• Thermal Wool Touchscreen Gloves
• Insulated Snow Boots
• Amazon's Best-Selling Windshield Scraper
• Rotibox Bluetooth Beanie Hat
• Sleek Door Draft Stopper

All prices and savings listed in this post are as of publication and could change. Patch may earn a commission on products purchased.