Farmers’ Almanac Releases an Extreme Winter Forecast for 2022-23 (2024)

FAQs

Will it snow in NC this year? ›

Could those colder temperatures lead to some snow? The answer is yes! The average winter snowfall at Raleigh-Durham International Airport is 5.2 inches. We're expecting to get more this year.

The 12-Month Long-Range Weather Report From The 2024 Old Farmer's Almanac. Winter temperatures will be above normal, as will be precipitation and snowfall. The coldest periods will arrive in late December and early and mid-February, with the best chances for snow occurring in late January and mid-February.

Winter temperatures will be below normal, with above-normal precipitation and snowfall.

The Old Farmer's Almanac claims an overall accuracy of about 80 percent for its winter forecasts; its staff calculates this based on whether they accurately predict the direction of departure from normal for precipitation and temperature in one city for each region they evaluate.

Consistent with NOAA's winter outlook, which gives most of North Carolina slightly elevated odds of being warmer than normal, we expect near- to above-normal temperatures on average this winter, but with the potential for at least brief cooler stretches by January or February.

The highest elevations at Beech Mountain typically receive an average of 84 inches of snow each winter, according to the Beech Mountain Resort, making this the snowiest area in the state.

The report says annual snow totals will decrease 24% by the year 2050. That means people will have to adapt.

If global emissions aren't curbed, “a large portion of the world will have snow-free winters by 2100,” says Andrew Schwartz, lead scientist at UC Berkeley's Central Sierra Snow Laboratory. This decrease in snow could become a cause, and not just a symptom, of climate change.

Having said that, snow can fall in the other months of winter too however, the amount of snowfall is usually very little with only around 2.9 inches expected. The highest snowfall ever recorded in Atlanta was in 1940, with 8.3 inches of snow accumulated on a single day.

This year, the Winter Outlook favors warmer-than-average temperatures across the Northern Tier of the U.S. and much of the northeast, including the state of Pennsylvania. With that being said, the highest chance for warmer-than-average temperatures will be for northern New England, Alaska and the Pacific Northwest.

What is El Niño winter? ›

El Niño causes the Pacific jet stream to move south and spread further east. During winter, this leads to wetter conditions than usual in the Southern U.S. and warmer and drier conditions in the North. El Niño also has a strong effect on marine life off the Pacific coast.

Pennsylvania July Snowfalls

Ben Gelber mentions in his book The Pennsylvania Weather Book the strange occurrence of snow flurries in the state's highlands of Bradford County on July 4, 1859. Snow flurries also occurred here again on July 2, 1918.

The Farmers' Almanac claims its forecasts are “amazingly accurate,” correctly predicting the weather about 80% to 85% of the time.

So ultimately, which one is more accurate? When it comes to predicting the weather, both claim an accuracy rate between 80 percent and 85 percent. One study measured the Old Farmer's Almanac's accuracy rate at 52-percent.

While NOAA releases seasonal outlooks much closer to the time frame they're predicting (such as releasing the winter outlook in mid-October), the forecasts are still subject to changes for accuracy, while the almanacs are set in stone once they're published.

When were the snowiest and least snowy winters in North Carolina's Piedmont Triad? (WGHP) — We are in a snow drought, and it has been tough for snow lovers. The last time we had measurable snowfall in the Piedmont Triad was Jan. 29, 2022, when 1.8″ fell.

El Niño, however, brings moisture into our atmosphere and causes more precipitation during the winters. The last five El Niño periods in North Carolina have also brought warmer than average winters.

Snow. Snow in North Carolina is seen on a regular basis in the mountains. North Carolina averages 5 inches (130 mm) of snow per winter season. However, this varies greatly across the state.

El Niño causes the Pacific jet stream to move south and spread further east. During winter, this leads to wetter conditions than usual in the Southern U.S. and warmer and drier conditions in the North. El Niño also has a strong effect on marine life off the Pacific coast.