Dreaming of a white Christmas? Old Farmer's Almanac releases forecast
Melina KhanDreams of a white Christmas may come true in some parts of the country, if the Old Farmer's Almanac's weather forecast is any indication.
The Old Farmer's Almanac has released its Christmas weather forecast for 2026, and it's projecting a snowy holiday for some areas.
A white Christmas is defined as having at least one inch of snow on the ground at 7 a.m. local time on Christmas Day, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
While the Old Farmer's Almanac's 2026 Christmas weather outlook varies widely across the country, its forecast breaks down the likelihood for snow into three categories: white Christmas, chance of a white Christmas or not a white Christmas.
The outlook is only a prediction. The Old Farmer's Almanac says it makes its forecasts using a formula combining solar science, climatology and meteorology.
Old Farmer's Almanac's white Christmas forecasts, by region
The Old Farmer's Almanac's Christmas weather forecast is broken down by region. Here's a look at the predictions:
- Northeast: A white Christmas
- Atlantic Corridor: Not a white Christmas
- Appalachians: Not a white Christmas in the north; chance of a white Christmas in the south
- Southeast: Not a white Christmas
- Florida: Not a white Christmas
- Lower Lakes: Chance of a white Christmas
- Ohio Valley: Chance of a white Christmas
- Deep South: Not a white Christmas
- Upper Midwest: Not a white Christmas
- Heartland: Not a white Christmas
- Texas–Oklahoma: Not a white Christmas
- High Plains: Chance of a white Christmas
- Intermountain: A white Christmas
- Desert Southwest: Not a white Christmas
- Pacific Northwest: Chance of a white Christmas
- Pacific Southwest: Not a white Christmas
- Alaska: A white Christmas
- Hawaii: Not a white Christmas
More Old Farmer's Almanac winter weather forecasts
The publication also released a long-range forecast for winter this year.
It's predicting mostly mild temperatures across the country, with a colder stretch from central New England through the Appalachians and Ohio Valley.
The Old Farmer's Almanac is also predicting wetter conditions than normal across much of the west and in parts of the south and midwest.
As for snow, the publication predicted more in parts of the northeast and Appalachians, plus parts of the west and Alaska.
Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. Keep up with her on Instagram @bymelinakhan and TikTok @melina.khan2.