The Farmers' Almanac has just released its winter weather forecast for 2024-2025

Although the dog days of summer are still in full swing, winter weather will be here sooner than you think. To prepare you for the cold months ahead, Old Farmer’s AlmanacAmerica's oldest weather forecaster, just released his extended winter weather forecast for 2024-2025. And it looks like it's going to be wet and snowy.

While the beginning of winter (late December) is expected to start cool, the coldest outbreak of the season will likely occur in the last week of January through early February. During this time, arctic air will cause a drop in temperatures across most parts of the country.

The northern Plains up to the Great Lakes region are expected to bear the brunt of this cold front, but areas east of the Rocky Mountains up to the Appalachians may also experience many periods of cold weather. As the cold air moves over the Great Lakes, Old Farmer’s Almanac predicts heavy snow showers and squalls that will bring snow to the East Lakes.

However, it's not just snowstorms in the U.S. New England and the Northeast will experience above-average winter rainfall and temperatures. Snow may still be seen in the mountainous regions of these areas, but sleet and rain will be more common near the coast.

In Texas, the southern Plains, and the Southeast and Atlantic coasts, people can look forward to warm weather this winter. Average winter temperatures are expected in the Southeast, while the Pacific Northwest will be unusually cold and wet.

During the last weeks of January, heavy rainfall and strong winds can occur in most parts of the eastern half of the country. From 20 to 27 January Old Farmer’s Almanac says snow, rain, sleet and ice are expected.