As Californians get through another hot summer, with wildfires sprouting up across the state, Winter seems like a long way off. The Old Farmer’s Almanac has already made its predictions for the upcoming season.
The almanac updated its previous winter forecast in July as a key weather phenomenon has officially taken shape.
The U.S. and even California have different climates, meaning weather phenomena will affect areas of the country differently.
How will California’s winter be?
When does Fall start?
Before Californians can even think about Winter, they need to first get through Fall, but when does it start?
The answer is not “when Starbucks brings back the pumpkin spice latte,” but with the Autumnal Equinox.
This year the equinox falls on Tuesday, September 22, at 8:04 p.m. EDT, or Sept. 22, at 11:04 a.m. PST, according to Almanac.com.
The Winter Solstice lands on Monday, December 21, 2026, at 3:50 p.m. EST or 6:50 p.m. PST for California.
What does The Old Farmer’s Almanac say about California’s winter? El Niño has returned
The Old Farmer’s Almanac suggests California may have a wetter-than-usual winter because North America will see El Niño in action during the winter months.
“Think of the Pacific Ocean as one of Earth’s most powerful weather engines. When its waters warm in just the right places, the jet stream — the fast-moving river of air that steers storms — often shifts its path. That change can influence where rain, snow, and colder air are most likely to travel across North America,” the Almanac said
How does the sun’s solar cycle impact winter?
High levels of solar activity have been associated with warmer temperatures, which could contribute to a warmer winter. The sun is in its solar cycle 25 which passed its peak activity in 2024, but sunspot activity remains relatively elevated, according to the Almanac.
“Although the sun may look like a constant ball of light every day, its activity rises and falls in a repeating cycle of about 11 years. A period of low activity, or solar minimum, in 2019 marked the beginning of solar cycle 25. In 2024, it entered into solar maximum, which is the peak of activity in the cycle. It will end when the next solar minimum is declared, completing the (about) 11-year wave,” NOAA said.
Solar Cycle 26 is expected to begin some time between January 2029 and December 2032, said the NASA Space Weather Prediction Center.
What does The Old Farmer’s Almanac say about ocean patterns to forecast winter?
To predict how active winter storms will be, forecasters monitor ocean patterns: the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation, the Pacific Decadal Oscillation and Indian Ocean Dipole, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac.
“Together, these ocean patterns can influence how much moisture reaches winter storms and where those storms are most likely to develop. Someti;ecentenoaraujo@vcstar.com, 805-437-0224 or @ecentenoaraujo on Instagram and X.
Contact Sarah Moore @ smoore@lsj.com
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: As the summer heat rages, Californians look to winter. How will it be?
Reporting by Ernesto Centeno Araujo and Sarah Moore, USA TODAY NETWORK / Palm Springs Desert Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Ernesto Centeno Araujo and Sarah Moore, USA TODAY NETWORK | USA TODAY Network
