Farmers' Almanac Warns of Heavy Snow as Record El Niño Builds

  Farmers' Almanac Warns of Heavy Snow as Record El Niño Builds

America is bracing for a snowy winter, according to the Farmers' Almanac 2026-27 forecast, which names two regions for heavy snow and a third for sudden squalls.

The Interior Northeast, including inland Pennsylvania, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine, faces the heaviest call, with several rounds of wet snow expected mostly in January and February.

Coastal cities like New York and Boston are more likely to see rain or a wintry mix. The Southern Rockies, covering Colorado and New Mexico, is the second heavy-snow zone. Across the Great Lakes and Midwest, the Almanac expects cold, snowy spells and warns of sudden squalls, with lake-effect snow peaking in January.

The outlook comes as a potentially record El Niño builds. NOAA's Climate Prediction Center gives a greater than 90% chance of a very strong El Niño this winter, which typically pushes storms south and raises the risk of sleet and freezing rain in the Southeast. Drivers should prepare for changing road conditions.