
John Weted of Detroit uses a snow blower to clear a sidewalk in January 2020.
The Farmers’ Almanac is anticipating “cold and snowy conditions in the north, drought in the west and everything crazy in between.” So the almanac has dubbed the upcoming winter the “winter of the great divide.”
The 2021 edition of the Farmers’ Almanac went on sale Monday.
Based on a “carefully guarded formula” that’s been followed for 204 years, the almanac this year forewarns areas from the Great Lakes and the Midwest westward through the Northern and Central Plains and Rockies that they are in for a cold winter, with normal to below-normal temperatures.
Snow will be abundant, the almanac says, with possibly above-normal amounts for parts of the western Dakotas, northern portions of Colorado and Utah, as well as Wyoming, which is great news for skiers.
The Mid-Atlantic region is expected to be “seasonably cold, wet and white,” capped by a February blizzard.
The almanac notes that the “winter wild card” for winter 2020-21 “belongs to areas around the Tennessee and lower Ohio River valleys, north and east up through New England … which will see a mix of intense weather systems that will keep delivering a wintry mix of rainy, icy and/or snowy weather throughout the season.”
And then during the second week of February, the almanac forecasts “a blizzard bringing 1-2 feet of snow along the eastern seaboard."
“If you didn’t like last winter’s somewhat-boring weather in the Northeast,” said managing editor Sandi Duncan, “you may be happy to hear what we are predicting for 2021.”
According to the almanac:
The southeastern part of the country, excluding the Tennessee Valley, will experience average precipitation levels, with temperatures chillier than normal.
In areas across the desert Southwest (Arizona and southern California), winter is predicted to be mild but dry.
In New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma and east into Arkansas and Louisiana, Mother Nature will mix intervals of tranquil weather with occasional shots of cold and wintry precipitation.
Along the Pacific Coastal Plain, from northern California and points north through western portions of Oregon and Washington, rainy and wet weather will be the rule for the winter ahead.
“Preparing people for the unexpected is more important than ever,” said editor Peter Geiger. “Our job as editors of the Farmers’ Almanac is to pass down valuable tips and advice to help our readers thrive, no matter the obstacles, including the weather.”
In addition to the winter outlook, the 2021 edition of the Farmers’ Almanac contains advice on ways to grow your own food, raise chickens, save money, boost your immunity, go fishing, and plant a prolific garden.
Photos: Here's what 10 feet of snow looks like
A blizzard dropped as much as 10 feet of snow on Mammoth Lakes, Calif., in February 2019.
California snow

Workers shovel giant snow drifts off the roof of the Mammoth Luxury Outlets in Mammoth Lakes after a blizzard dropped as much as 10 feet of snow in the biggest storm system so far this season Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019. Mammoth Mountain was closed Tuesday because of the blizzard but reopened Wednesday. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times/TNS)
California snow

Rafael Guerrero, of Lee Vining, makes his way through giant snow drifts while getting coffee for friends as heavy snow blankets Mammoth Lakes after a blizzard dropped as much as 10 feet of snow in the biggest storm system so far this season Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019. Mammoth Mountain was closed Tuesday because of the blizzard. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times/TNS)
California snow

A skier is dwarfed by giant snow drifts while a worker shovels snow off a condo roof in Mammoth Lakes, Calif. after a blizzard dropped as much as 10 feet of snow in the biggest storm system so far this season Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019. Mammoth Mountain was closed Tuesday because of the blizzard but reopened Wednesday. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times/TNS)
California snow

Workers shovel giant snow drifts off the roofs of condos as a snow plow is dwarfed by snow drifts as it clears the parking lot in Mammoth Lakes, Calif. after a blizzard dropped as much as 10 feet of snow in the biggest storm system so far this season Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019. Mammoth Mountain was closed Tuesday because of the blizzard but reopened Wednesday. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times/TNS)
California snow

Giant snow drifts cover a truck and lodging in Mammoth Lakes, Calif. after a blizzard dropped as much as 10 feet of snow in the biggest storm system so far this season Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019. Mammoth Mountain was closed Tuesday because of the blizzard but reopened Wednesday. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times/TNS)
California snow

A snow plow clears a road near Highway 395 near Mammoth Lakes, Calif., as heavy snow blankets the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains after a blizzard dropped as much as 10 feet of snow in the biggest storm system so far this season at Feb. 6, 2019. Mammoth Mountain was closed Tuesday because of the blizzard. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times/TNS)
California snow

Snow blankets Highway 395 and the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains after a blizzard dropped as much as 10 feet of snow in the biggest storm system so far this season near Mammoth Lakes Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019. Mammoth Mountain was closed Tuesday because of the blizzard. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times/TNS)
California snow

A snow plow clears a road near Highway 395 near Mammoth Lakes, Calif., as heavy snow blankets the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains after a blizzard dropped as much as 10 feet of snow in the biggest storm system so far this season at Feb. 6, 2019. Mammoth Mountain was closed Tuesday because of the blizzard. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times/TNS)
California snow

Giant snow drifts blanket cabins in Mammoth Lakes after a blizzard dropped as much as 10 feet of snow in the biggest storm system so far this season Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019. Mammoth Mountain was closed Tuesday because of the blizzard but reopened Wednesday. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times/TNS)
California snow

Workers shovel giant snow drifts off the roofs of condos as a snow plow is dwarfed by snow drifts as it clears the parking lot in Mammoth Lakes after a blizzard dropped as much as 10 feet of snow in the biggest storm system so far this season Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019. Mammoth Mountain was closed Tuesday because of the blizzard but reopened Wednesday. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times/TNS)
California snow

Erik Harriman, of Newport Beach, left, shovels the walkway as workers shovel giant snow drifts off the roofs of St. Anton condos in Mammoth Lakes after a blizzard dropped as much as 10 feet of snow in the biggest storm system so far this season Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019. Mammoth Mountain was closed Tuesday because of the blizzard but reopened Wednesday. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times/TNS)
California snow

Giant snow drifts dwarf a skier heading back to their snow-covered lodging in Mammoth Lakes after a blizzard dropped as much as 10 feet of snow in the biggest storm system so far this season Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019. Mammoth Mountain was closed Tuesday because of the blizzard but reopened Wednesday. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times/TNS)
California snow

A snowboarder rides amidst a winter wonderland at Mammoth Mountain after a blizzard dropped as much as 10 feet of snow in the biggest storm system so far this season Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019. Mammoth Mountain was closed Tuesday because of the blizzard but reopened Wednesday. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times/TNS)
California snow

Workers shovel giant snow drifts off the roof of the Mammoth Luxury Outlets in Mammoth Lakes after a blizzard dropped as much as 10 feet of snow in the biggest storm system so far this season Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019. Mammoth Mountain was closed Tuesday because of the blizzard but reopened Wednesday. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times/TNS)
California snow

MAMMOTH LAKES, CALIF. -- WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2019: Workers shovel giant snow drifts off the roof of the Mammoth Luxury Outlets in Mammoth Lakes after a blizzard dropped as much as 10 feet of snow in the biggest storm system so far this season Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019. Mammoth Mountain was closed Tuesday because of the blizzard but reopened Wednesday. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times/TNS)
California snow

Snow blankets Mt. Whitney after recent snow storms blanketed the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains with several feet of snow in Lone Pine Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times/TNS)
California snow

A snowboarder falls through a snowbank amidst a winter wonderland at Mammoth Mountain, Calif. after a blizzard dropped as much as 10 feet of snow in the biggest storm system so far this season Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019. Mammoth Mountain was closed Tuesday because of the blizzard but reopened Wednesday. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times/TNS)