Farmers’ Almanac Winter Forecast: What’s In Store For Washington

WASHINGTON — The Farmers’ Almanac just released its 2021-22 winter forecast, and it predicts Washington is in for a fairly normal pattern. The coldest season officially begins with the winter solstice on Tuesday, Dec. 21, and the Almanac's long-range forecast suggests the spring equinox on March 20 could be more winter-like than spring-like. For Washington, Oregon and Idaho, the Farmers’ Almanac winter forecast calls for "typical winter temperatures and precipitation."

However, Pacific Northwest snow fans should not lose faith just yet. In July, federal climatologists reported burgeoning odds for another La Niña winter, which typically makes for a rainier, snowier and cooler season in Washington. The Climate Prediction Center's current long-range outlook shows favorable chances for below-average temperatures and above-average precipitation between December and February. NOAA typically releases its official winter predictions in October.

Across America, the Farmers’ Almanac is calling for near-normal amounts of snow, though perhaps not as much as people who spend the winter playing in the snow might prefer. Notably, the forecast calls for:

The Great Lakes and Northeast can expect potent winter storms — heavy snow, rain or a wintry mix of both — during the second week of January, the final week of February and the second week of March. The Northern Plains and Rockies may see a blizzard the third week of January.

The publication expects January to start out mild for most of the country, becoming colder toward the middle or latter part of the month. Overall, January will be stormy, especially along the Atlantic Seaboard, with bouts of rain, snow, sleet and ice.

February should offer some reprieve from storms. In the eastern third of the United States, the Farmers’ Almanac forecasts 57 percent fewer days of measurable precipitation compared with January, though it said “that doesn’t necessarily mean storminess will be completely absent."

Parts of the Northeast, Ohio Valley and far western United States could see heavy rains and snow toward the end of February.

Finally, precipitation will be near normal nationwide in March, the Farmers’ Almanac offered in a qualifier, noting that “in a sense, March will be a microcosm of the entire winter.”

“From start to finish, the month will be full of stretches of uneventful weather, but when it turns stormy, the precipitation will come in big doses,” the publication said. “For the East and Midwest, for example, a late winter storm will blow in at mid-month followed by a nor’easter along the East Coast toward month’s end."

The Farmers’ Almanac, established in 1818, publishes its annual extended winter forecast every August.