Winter is still months away, but an early forecast is already offering clues about what Mississippi could be in for when temperatures start to fall. The Old Farmer’s Almanac has released its long-range outlook for the season.
The almanac is predicting normal or slightly warmer temperatures for most of the country in its early outlook. New England, the Appalachians and the Ohio Valley could be colder, as could Hawaii.
Winter weather looks warmer overall in the Magnolia State. The Gulf Coast region will likely see a mild but wet season, according to the almanac. Snow chances are stronger in northern areas.
Here’s what you need to know about when winter starts and what forecasters say we should look for.
Old Farmer’s Almanac winter forecast for Mississippi
Overall, the Deep South can expect temperatures to be above normal. The Old Farmer’s Almanac calls for a few chances for snow in northern parts of the region and wetter conditions in the south. Overall, snow chances are below normal, but the best times will be in early January and mid-February.
The coldest periods are expected to be in mid-December, early January and early February.
Long-range forecasts can provide clues about seasonal trends, but they aren’t designed to predict day-to-day weather.
The Old Farmer’s Almanac predicts a mild winter for most of the U.S., including the Gulf Coast. Mississippi can expect a relatively wet season, according to the long-range weather forecast. Show chances are stronger to the north.
How cold is winter in Mississippi?
Historically, Mississippi has average lows in the mid-to-high 30s from December through February, according to usclimatedata.com. Daytime highs average in the high 50s and low 60s.
How does the almanac make long-range forecasts?
The forecasters look at “science, climatology and meteorology.” They compare temperature and precipitation to a rolling 30-year average to predict based on trends.
How accurate is the Old Farmer’s Almanac?
In an internal review of how well they predicted the 2023-24 winter, the almanac gave itself about an 80% accuracy rate. They say they’re looking at long-range predictions to help people like farmers, gardeners and event planners make decisions in advance, not give an accurate day-to-day weather forecast.
A screenshot from The Old Farmer’s Almanac website.
The Old Farmer’s Almanac has helped people plan their year since 1792, and a University of Illinois study of the almanac’s accuracy published in 1981 found only about 50% accuracy for rain and precipitation forecasts over five years.
For winter 2024-25, the almanac predicted an Arctic blast for late January and early February. The Gulf Coast did experience historic cold and snowfall, but the event arrived earlier than forecast.
When does winter officially start in 2026?
The season will start on Monday, Dec. 21, 2026, with the winter solstice. It’s the shortest day with the longest night.
Meteorological winter, however, uses Dec. 1 as the start of the season and runs through the end of February.
Contributing: Victoria E. Freile
Bonnie Bolden is the Deep South Connect reporter for Mississippi with USA TODAY Network. Email her at bbolden@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Old Farmer’s Almanac winter forecast: What’s in store for Mississippi
