How much snow will Ohio get this winter? Here are the latest Farmers Almanac and NOAA forecasts

Last winter’s colder-than-average stretch has Ohio residents primed for a snowy season and according to forecasts, that might just be the case. Snow is definitely in the forecast for much of the region, but the outlook suggests more flurries than blizzards.

The Old Farmers’ Almanac predicts the Great Lakes area and the Ohio Valley region will have a “colder-than-normal winter” and “greater amounts of snow” with two major cold snaps in January and February.

The Farmers’ Almanac uses tradition-based predictions dating back to 1818, but most contemporary meteorologists rely on scientific modeling.

Scientific winter predictions for 2025/2026

What NOAA says

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) latest seasonal outlook indicates Ohio is likely to have above average amounts of precipitation, but paired with cold fronts coming from Canada, this could produce bouts of snow or mixed precipitation.

However, sustained snow cover will be most likely in the northeast and the higher elevations along the Appalachian foothills, while southern and central Ohio may see fewer and shorter-lived snow events.

What AccuWeather says

The predictions from AccuWeather call for “a snowy winter” for much of Ohio and by late winter the storm track is forecasted to shift bringing possible severe weather.

December around the Great Lakes could see more winter weather from blasts of cold air, fueling heavy lake-effect snow. Meteorologist Paul Pastelok warns it could be “an intense stormy winter for areas of the country, particularly across the Midwest, Great Lakes, [and] Ohio Valley.”

This is also the timeframe for the polar vortex to shift south, bringing some of the coldest air of the season all across North America.

So, if you were hoping for a milder winter in Ohio, it looks like you’re in for more of the same, with chances rising for flurries and brief snow showers.