The Midwest is getting two very different winter stories. One almanac pictures a mild, damp season with little snow across the Heartland, while the other expects cold, snowy spells from the Great Lakes through the Midwest.
That split is part of the fun of almanac season. Both are traditional long-range outlooks, and neither one is an official forecast, so the best use is as a conversation starter and a nudge to get the snow shovel out of the back of the garage.
Old Farmer’s Almanac: Warmer, Wetter, Little Snow
The Old Farmer’s Almanac says “the Heartland will be warmer and wetter overall, with near- to below-normal snowfall.” Its snowiest stretches are early December, late January and early March, with the coldest days in early and late January and early March.
The same outlook has the Upper Midwest starting mild and turning colder than normal as winter goes on, with near- to below-normal snow. Its Lower Lakes region is also warmer and less snowy than normal, though the almanac says conditions “will still prove difficult” at times, with the coldest periods in early January and early February. The local Lower Lakes winter forecast and the Ohio Valley outlook cover the neighboring regions in more detail…