The Farmers' Almanac, publishing winter forecasts since 1818 using what it calls a "proprietary formula," is calling this winter "Snow, Sleet, and Surprises," predicting sharp regional contrasts: an active storm track through the South, quick bitter cold snaps up north, and a messy mix of rain, sleet, and snow in the Northeast.
NOAA's own outlook, built on El Niño data rather than the Almanac's closely guarded method, largely agrees that this will be an unusually active winter, though the two forecasts diverge on specifics in several regions. The Almanac claims 80-85% accuracy on its regional predictions; independent reviews have found its hit rate much closer to a coin flip.
