The Old Farmer’s Almanac has released an October update to its winter outlook, with Montgomery County and surrounding areas, including Washington, D.C., Frederick County and much of Northern Virginia, falling within the “Cold, Snowy” category on its latest forecast map.
The accompanying forecast for the Mid-Atlantic, however, offers somewhat conflicting expectations for the upcoming winter. In its Atlantic Corridor forecast, the Old Farmer’s Almanac calls for “a milder winter,” with above-normal temperatures and slightly below-normal snowfall. Precipitation is also expected to finish below normal.
According to that outlook, the coldest stretches are expected in early to mid-December, early to mid-January, and early and late February. The snowiest periods are projected for late November, early and mid-January, early and late February, and late March.
Elsewhere in the forecast, however, the Almanac offers a different outlook, stating that winter temperatures will be below normal and snowfall will be above normal, particularly in northern portions of the region. That forecast identifies mid-January and mid- to late February as the coldest periods, with the most significant opportunities for snow in mid-January and early and late February.
While the temperature and overall snowfall projections differ between the descriptions, both forecasts call for below-normal precipitation and point to January and February as the periods most likely to produce notable winter weather.
The October update comes as long-range winter forecasts continue to take shape ahead of the 2026-2027 season.
