Is a white Christmas in the cards for Fort Worth in 2023? Here’s what Farmers’ Almanac says
With excessive heat and dry conditions impacting North Texas this summer, winter may feel further away than ever.
Believe it or not, the first day of winter is Dec. 21 or 141 days from Wednesday, but who’s counting?
This year cold conditions and the possibility of snow could come before the start of winter, according to extended weather predictions by the Farmers’ Almanac.
The Farmers’ Almanac — started in 1818 — is different than the Old Farmers’ Almanac which started in 1792.
Farmers’ Almanac editors use a formula based on rules developed in 1818 by astronomer and mathematician, David Young to predict weather 16 months out.
National Weather Service meteorologists previously told the Star-Telegram that it’s practically impossible to predict when we’ll see the last triple digit day this summer, so take long range predictions with a grain of salt.
A WFAA analysis in 2017 concluded that the Old Farmer’s Almanac — not the Farmers’ Almanac — had, at best, a 50% accuracy despite its claim of being traditionally 80% accurate.
If you’re curious what weather we could have this winter, here’s what the Farmers’ Almanac is predicting for Texas this year.
Could Texas see a white Christmas?
While the astronomical winter season starts Dec. 21, a few days before the Christmas holiday, the meteorological winter starts on Dec. 1.
Meteorological seasons are determined by the temperatures and weather typically associated with that season.
The Farmers’ Almanac predicts December to have a stormy start. The almanac’s extended weather forecast calls for some blizzard conditions blowing snow into areas over northern New England, the north central region, and northern and central areas of New Mexico, Oklahoma and Arkansas.
An unusually snowy and wet winter is also predicted for the Pacific Northwest. The El Nino climate pattern could direct the subtropical jet stream into California, moving large amounts of rain and snow across the entire Southwest, the Farmers’ Almanac predicts.
The almanac also predicts that Texans will experience unseasonably cold weather throughout January and February, with a possible major winter storm in mid-January.
This story was originally published August 3, 2023 at 12:00 AM.
