Forecast for New York City: A Chill Winter Awaits, According to the Farmers' Almanac
New York Braces for a Potentially Harsh Winter, According to The Farmers' Almanac
New York City residents are gearing up for a potentially harsh winter, as The Farmers' Almanac predicts cooler-than-usual temperatures for the fall season. The forecast suggests that while the city may not directly experience the coldest temperatures of the season, significant rain mixed with snow is expected for New York and the Atlantic coast.
The Farmers' Almanac, a publication known for its weather forecasts, claims to be 80% accurate in its predictions. This year, the almanac has compiled a list of 20 signs that historically indicate a difficult winter ahead.
- Thicker-than-normal onion skins or corn husks
- Woodpeckers sharing a tree unusually closely
- Early arrival of the snowy owl
- Increased spider web density
- Beaver lodge construction being more robust and reinforced
- Thickness of animal fur in late summer and early fall
- Intensified squirrel nut-gathering behavior
- Abundance of acorns
- Early bird migration
- Geese and ducks heading south early
- More woodpecker activity
- Thicker and tighter corn husks
- Increased bird activity, such as turkeys growing thicker feathers or perching higher for safety
- More nuts gathered by squirrels
- Early frost or freeze in some regions
- Extra layers on tree bark or thicker bark
- Cattails producing fuller seed heads
- Onion skin thickness and texture
- Animals burrowing deeper or increasing shelter use
- Increased spider web presence and thickness
These signs draw from traditional knowledge combined with observations of animal behavior and plant changes. Farmers and weather watchers have used them for centuries to prepare for winter severity.
The list was notably compiled in a 1978 Farmers’ Almanac edition by Ray Geiger and Cleveland weather expert Dick Goddard and remains relevant today as a natural forecasting tool.
In addition to these signs, other observations have been linked to harsh winters. For example, the early migration of the monarch butterfly, mice frantically gnawing to get into your house, heavy and numerous fogs in August, ants marching in a line rather than meandering, early seclusion of bees in the hive, spiders spinning larger webs than usual and entering homes in great numbers, bears with thick tails and light bands, the unusual abundance of acorns, muskrat holes dug high on the riverbank, frequent halos or rings around the sun or moon, the early arrival of crickets on the hearth, New England and the mid-Atlantic region receiving more snow than New York and the Atlantic coast, dense hair on the nape of a cow's neck, pigs gathering sticks, and woodpeckers sharing a tree.
As winter-like weather is expected to hit some parts of the country as early as September, residents are encouraged to stay informed and prepare accordingly. A full forecast for the 2025-2026 winter season will be published in the 2026 edition of the Farmers' Almanac.
Read also:
- Germany's three-month tenure under Merz's administration feels significantly extended
- United Nations Human Rights Evaluation, Session 45: United Kingdom's Statement Regarding Mauritius' Human Rights Record
- Hurricane-potential storm Erin forms, poised to become the first hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean this year.
- Europe endures a sweltering heatwave, amplifying the risk of wildfires in France.
