Iowa’s 2018-19 Winter Weather Outlook Includes Lots of Snow

If this scene is what you dream of, the upcoming winter in Iowa could be perfect for you. It looks like it will be a wet one but what will our temperatures be like? That depends on who you ask.

First, the cold, which I am absolutely NOT a fan of. The 2019 Farmers' Almanac says it will be cold. Really cold. They also promise it will be a white winter for the Hawkeye state. Their forecast for the entire state of Iowa is "Teeth-Chattering Cold, Plentiful Snow." The Farmers' Almanac predicts the coldest part of winter will arrive toward the end, in the middle part of February. I can't wait.

The Old Farmer's Almanac has a slightly different forecast for Iowa in the months ahead. They're in agreement that it's going to be a wet winter but believe it will be a warm one. Hooray! Here's what they attribute their expectation of a warm winter to:

Due to a decrease in solar activity and the expected arrival of a weak El Nino, which will prevent cold air masses from lingering in the North.

I have no idea what decrease in solar activity means, but if it means a lower heating bill and warmer temperatures, I'm all for it.

The Old Farmer's Almanac dates to 1792 and the Farmers' Almanac to 1818. Who will be right this winter?