The Farmers' Almanac says Ohio could see cold snaps and periods of heavy snow this winter.
The Farmers' Almanac recently released its 2026-2027 winter outlook. In general, the Farmers' Almanac calls for dramatic swings and widespread wintry weather in the U.S. this winter.
Cold temperatures and snow could start appearing in September in parts of the U.S., and a cold snap could happen during December holidays, according to the winter weather outlook.
In Northern regions of the U.S., including the northern Plains, Upper Midwest, Great Lakes and much of the West, temperatures will average near normal, but “that does not mean winter will be mild,” according to the Farmer’s Almanac.
These areas could see clippers (a sort of fast-moving low pressure winter
storm system), sudden cold snaps, and brief snowy periods with mild breaks. Northern parts of these regions could see sudden snow squalls, blustery winds and bursts of bitter cold.
A Farmers' Almanac winter weather outlook map describes the upcoming winter in Ohio and other eastern Midwest states as having “cold, snowy periods.”
The Farmers' Almanac does not disclose how exactly it forecasts long-range weather, but it uses “a combination of sunspot cycles, lunar position, tidal pull, and historical pattern weighting.” It has been forecasting long term weather patterns since 1818.
What do other forecasters say about this winter in Ohio?
Other forecasters have focused more on the way El Niño will affect winter weather this year. In Ohio, El Niño can cause a warm, dry winter.
El Niño refers to above average surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. The temperatures can cause winds that normally blow from east to west along the equator to weaken or start blowing the other direction, disrupting weather patterns and causing extreme weather globally, including in the U.S.
El Niño is a naturally occurring weather pattern that happens about every 2-7 years, but rising ocean temperatures could be worsening its effects. In the northern U.S. and Canada, El Niño can mean dryer, warmer winter weather.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration hasn’t released its outlook for the 2026-27 winter but said in an Aug. 13 update there is an 81% chance El Niño becomes "very strong" from October through December, potentially ranking among the strongest events on record since 1950.
There is also a 97% chance the climate pattern could continue into early spring 2027, the NOAA said.
Some have described this online and in news reports as a “Super El Niño,” though that’s not a term the NOAA uses in its reports.
Because of El Niño, weather forecasting service OpenSnow has called for a warmer, drier winter for Ohio along with other northern parts of the U.S.
Public safety and breaking news reporter Bailey Gallion can be reached at bagallion@dispatch.com.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: How much snow will this winter bring? What the Farmers' Almanac expects for Ohio
