Fall may have just settled in, but what’s the harm in looking ahead at the next season’s weather prediction?
That’s what the Old Farmer’s Almanac did in their newly released 2025 to 2026 U.S. Winter Weather Forecast.
Nationally, winter is expected to be slightly milder, with some areas experiencing frigid temperatures. In Ohio, the weather is expected to be generally chilly with a few snow spells toward the east.
To put it simply, the Farmer’s Almanac—which boasts 80% accuracy in weather predictions— said it might be a good idea to “prep snow gear early, especially for eastern areas likely to see more flakes.”
The Old Farmer’s Almanac predicts colder than normal temperatures this upcoming winter in the Ohio Valley.
Here’s a breakdown of the winter weather forecast for Columbus from the Old Farmer’s Almanac:
Winter weather forecast for the Columbus area
Columbus falls within the Ohio Valley forecast area, designated as Region 7 out of 18. This zone also covers Cincinnati, Louisville, Kentucky; and Pittsburgh.
Winter will be colder than normal, with the coldest period occurring in mid-to late December, early January, late January, and into early February. Snowfall is expected to be near or above normal in the east and below normal in the west.
Precipitation is expected to be below normal, with near-to-above-normal snowfall in the east and below normal in the west. The snowiest periods are expected in late December and early to late February.
Here’s the month by month breakdown:
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November 2025: Average temperature of 44 degrees (1 degree below average), 2.5-inch precipitation.
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December 2025: Average temperature of 36 degrees ( 3 degrees below average), 1.5-inch precipitation. Snowy east, sunny west.
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January 2026: Average temperature of 32 degrees (2 degrees below average), 2.5-inch precipitation. Sunny east, flurries west.
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February 2026: Average temperature of 37 degrees (2 degrees above average), 3.5-inch precipitation with heavy snow east, rain to snow west.
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March 2026: Average temperature of 45 degrees (3.5-inch precipitation); first day of spring is March 20, 2026.
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April 2026: Average temperature of 58 degrees (2 degrees above average), 4-inch precipitation.
Winter weather for the lower lakes region of Ohio
Ohio’s northern third, which the almanac has designated part of the “Lower Lakes region,” is projected to have a milder winter, with below-average precipitation and “patchy” snowfall.
Temperatures should be above normal, and though “lake-effect snow” is likely in some parts of northeast Ohio during most of December and early-to-mid March, snowfall should generally be near-to-below normal.
Trending features reporter Amani Bayo contributed to reporting and can be reached at abayo@dispatch.com.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: How cold will winter 2025 be in Ohio? Old Farmer’s Almanac forecast
