Farmers' Almanac revealed its winter 2022 predictions, and it's not looking good

As summer comes to a close, we turn our collective attention toward the colder months of the year and Farmers’ Almanac's trusty predictions but unfortunately, it's not looking good!

You'd usually expect winter to creep in slowly, counting the calendar days down from Fall Equinox 2022. This year, however, a colder-than-usual winter is expected to arrive much sooner, good news for snow lovers, but not so good for the rest of us!

According to the outlet's extended forecast, the United States can expect quite a few winter weather disturbances throughout the season. The Farmers' Almanac goes into specific dates, including:

• Folks in the Rockies and across the Plains are going to see a whole lot of snow during the first week of January 2023. "We see good potential for heavy snow that may reach as far south as Texas and Oklahoma, followed by a sweep of bitterly cold air," reads the Almanac.
• During the week between January 16 and 23, the eastern two-thirds of the country should get ready for pretty awful weather punctuated by both heavy rain and snow, followed by "one of the coldest outbreaks of arctic air we have seen in several years." Temperatures are expected to reach 40 degrees below zero. That's incredibly frigid.

How much snow will fall in the United States this winter 2022/23?

Overall, the Farmers'Almanac predicts a snow-heavy winter across the nation. Those in highest cold-weather peril will find themselves in the middle of an active storm track that is predicted to run from the western Gulf of Mexico all the way to the northeast, across the Virginias and touching upon New York state and New England, all areas that are used to bracing for the coldest winter across the country.

States positioned to the south of the predicted storm track shouldn't expect a mild winter, though. The outlet warns of chilly temperatures, wintry mixes of snow, sleet and ice, and pretty frequent storms. 

Moving north to the central states, residents can hope for a white Christmas as the area is scheduled to receive plenty of snow. South central states, though, will likely see the harshest weather by early January. 

The Southwest sets itself apart from the rest of the country as the Farmers' Almanac predicts a less-than-normal amount of precipitation throughout the winter season.

How cold will the winter of 2022/23 actually be across the US?

If there is one takeaway to keep in mind following the release of the Farmers’ Almanac winter 2022 predictions, it is that, overall, it is going to get extremely cold out there throughout the next few months.

Specifically, the outlet warns the northern central states that they'll be part of the snow-filled hibernation zone (basically, the most glacial portion of the country). 

The northeastern states won't suffer as much, but they should still prepare themselves for an unreasonably cold and snowy winter. 

The west side of the country, however, will either have to live through a normal amount of precipitation or, perhaps, a drier than normal winter (that latter qualification mostly applies to the south).

When will winter end and when will it get warm again in the US?

Although the last official day of winter falls on March 19, 2023, American citizens can hope for temperatures to start climbing by February. That is a delightful piece of news considering that, according to the Farmers' Almanac, this upcoming January will be much colder than usual.

What is the Farmers' Almanac?

You've probably been hearing about the Farmers' Almanac's seasonal predictions for decades now, but do you know what, exactly, the outlet is about? The annual American periodical has been publishing long-range weather predictions for both the United States and Canada since way back in 1818. 

The publication actually does even more than that: it muses on topics like natural remedies, full moon dates, and meanings, advice on a variety of themes, and folklore tales. 

Each new edition is released at the end of August, featuring 16 months of weather predictions. The publication breaks down its findings into seven different zones and also features seasonal weather maps.

How does the Farmers' Almanac make its predictions?

According to the Farmers' Almanac, there is a specific formula by which the outlet is able to make its long-range weather forecasts each year.

"The editors of the Farmers' Almanac firmly deny using any type of computer satellite tracking equipment, weather lore, or groundhogs," reads the publication's website. "What they will admit to is using a specific and reliable set of rules that were developed back in 1818 by astronomer and mathematician David Young, the Almanac's first editor. These rules have been altered slightly and turned into a formula that is both mathematical and astronomical."

Don't get too excited: apparently, the only person who really knows the formula is the Farmers' Almanac own weather prognosticator, a person that goes by the pseudonym Caleb Weatherbee. 

"To protect this proprietary formula, the editors of the Farmers' Almanac prefer to keep both Caleb's true identity and the formula a closely guarded brand secret," reads the website. 

The publication does, however, reveal that the formula takes a lot of factors into account, including the position of planets, tidal action of the moon, and sunspot activity. 

So sure are the predictors about their method that the Farmers' Almanac's forecasts are actually calculated two years in advance! According to the publication's website, "once the new edition is printed, the editors never go back to change or update its forecasts the way other local sources do."

In case you were wondering, a majority of the outlet's regular readers maintain that the generated forecasts are between 80% and 85% accurate in any given year.