Two years ago, winter was brutal (we still shudder). Last year, winter was better (ahh).
What might be coming next for us?
The 2025 “Old Farmer’s Almanac” has recently published its latest predictions, and it is happy to suspect a “temperate, uneventful winter” for the Sioux Falls area.
But how has the “Old Farmer’s Almanac” been faring?
Estimates were off for last two years
The 2022-2023 winter season in Sioux Falls was projected to be “dry with below-average snowfall in our region,” according to the almanac, which has been publishing annually for more than 200 years.
But by late spring of 2023, nearly 65 inches of snow hit, knocking out the city’s $10 million annual winter budget within the first few months and qualifying as one of the top 10 snowiest winters on record.
Then, when the “Old Farmer’s Almanac” predicted for 2023-2024 “colder than normal” temperatures and “slightly above normal” snowfall, temperatures ended up being warmer, and snowfall amounts were lower.
According to meteorologist Alex Trellinger, with the National Weather Service, temperatures between September 2023 and April 2024 averaged 43 degrees, which is more than double the average winter temperature here of 20 degrees.
Meanwhile, Sioux Falls only saw 25.2 inches of snowfall accumulation last year, which is half the average we usually see in a year (Coincidentally, the Old Almanac only forecasted 11.5 inches of snowfall last year. Either way, it was off).
So, 0 for 2 for the “Old Farmer’s Almanac” during the past two winters.
More: Further outlook from the National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center.
What we could expect in 2025:
A reprieve is expected again this year.
After the climate pattern El Niño ended in May and La Niña’s expected return this fall, the U.S. endured a hotter summer—one climate scientists declared as the Earth’s hottest on record.
The National Weather Service says this is to be expected. When El Niño exists, precipitation increases significantly. When El Niño ends and La Niña emerges, precipitation drops significantly, conjuring erratic swings from cold to warm. This means that storms develop more quickly without big brother El Niño to hold them back, leaving the coasts more vulnerable. It’s already been a stressful hurricane season.
Weekly forecast: It looks like we’re still in the 80s next week.
With La Niña on watch now, Trellinger says to expect mild temperatures into 2025 and some precipitation (rain and / or snow) in Sioux Falls, but a more complete winter outlook will be available till next month.
In the meanwhile, the official outlook of the “Old Farmer’s Almanac” concurs a “calmer, gentler” season.
“This winter, temperatures will be up and snowfall down throughout most of the United States,” said Carol Connare, the Old Farmer’s Almanac editor-in-chief. “While there will still be plenty of chilly temperatures and snow for most slopes, the high-heating costs associated with the season shouldn’t hit so hard.”
According to the almanac’s Regional Forecast Summaries for the United States, our region can expect winter to be “warmer than normal,” with the coldest periods hitting in late January and again in late February.
Snowfall in the Heartland region, which includes southeastern South Dakota, eastern Nebraska, central to eastern Kansas, Iowa and Missouri, will be below normal as well, the summary says. When it does hit, it will coincide with the lower temperatures in January-February.
As for the Upper Midwest, including North Dakota, Minnesota and northern Wisconsin, “the coldest shots will occur in November, January then late February to early March,” the summary predicts.
Snowiest periods for the Upper Midwest are predicted to be in late November, late December, most of January, early February, and mid-March.
As for other projections, The National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center is forecasting thus far a “warmer and drier” winter, while the “Farmer’s Almanac,” the “Old Farmer’s Almanac” competitor, recently announced a “cold and wet” season to come for its 2025 projections.
This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: ‘Old Farmer’s Almanac’ returns with winter predictions for Sioux Falls
Source Agencies
