As Arizona enters October, temperatures are dropping and residents are looking forward to cooler seasons.
Tropical storms brought some significant rainfall to Arizona during the finals of days of September, creating much cooler temperatures and a preview of some fall weather.
Looking ahead, The Old Farmer's Almanac has released its winter weather prediction, giving Arizonans a sense of what to expect from December to February.
But before you start buying your snow ski passes and pulling out your scarves and gloves from storage, double check what the The Old Farmer's Almanac is predicting for winter temperatures, rain and snow in the upcoming season.
When does winter start?
Winter officially starts on Monday, Dec. 21.
Will it be a cold winter?
The Old Farmer's Almanac predicted it will be a warmer-than-usual
winter in Arizona.
The coldest months were expected to be late December, early January and early February, according to The Old Farmer's Almanac.
Temperatures across the whole country were expected to be warmer than average, but the Old Farmer's Almanac also stated in its prediction that this doesn't mean it's going to be warm, just above typical winter temperatures.
Will it snow this winter in Arizona?
In areas that typically receive snow in Arizona, such as Flagstaff, Prescott and other northern towns, snowfall was predicted to be below average.
For those looking to snow ski, the snowiest periods were expected to be late December, mid-January and mid-February, according to The Old Farmer's Almanac.
Will it rain this winter in Arizona?
Although some of the Southwest region was expected to have a snowy season with mild precipitation, according to The Old Farmer's Almanac's map, Arizona specifically was shown to have a dry winter season.
How does The Old Farmer's Almanac make its predictions?
The Old Farmer's Almanac is America's oldest forecaster, according to the publication. However, its current weather forecasting method is a modern adaptation of a formula developed by the almanac's founder, Robert B. Thomas, in 1792.
The Old Farmer's Almanac specializes in extended weather predictions to help farmers plan their crops for the season using a method influenced by sunspots, which are magnetic storms on the surface of the sun, and this is factored heavily into its forecasts.
How accurate are the Old Farmer's Almanac's predictions?
The Old Farmer's Almanac, distinct from the Farmers' Almanac, claims an 80% accuracy rate for its weather predictions.
However, in a report evaluating last winter's forecasts, the almanac reported an overall accuracy rate of 64% for the season. The publication attributed the lower accuracy to "abnormal recent weather patterns."
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Will it be cold in Arizona this winter? What Old Farmer's Almanac says
