Northern Californians hoping for a big snowpack may be disappointed this year.
The 2026 Old Farmer’s Almanac has released its 2025–2026 Winter Weather Forecast, calling for “Mostly Mild—with Pockets of Wild.” For California, that translates to a dry, quiet winter with fewer storms than usual.
The Almanac expects most of the U.S. to see near-normal or slightly warmer temperatures. Here in NorCal, however, conditions are forecast to be drier than average, with below-normal snowfall in the Sierra Nevada. That means fewer powder days at ski resorts and more stress on reservoirs and rivers when spring arrives.
Since its founding in 1792, the Farmer’s Almanac has been a staple for long-range weather predictions. While it’s not always exact, its forecasts offer a broad sense of seasonal trends, and this year’s message for California is clear: don’t count on a snow-heavy winter.
Adding to that forecast, NOAA predicts a La Niña winter. Historically, La Niña tends to push storm systems away from Northern California, bringing drier conditions to the north while sometimes delivering more precipitation to Southern California. For the Sierra and North State, La Niña years have often meant lighter snowfall, smaller storms, and heightened wildfire concerns the following summer.
So while the season may still bring a few “pockets of wild,” the overall outlook points toward a mild, dry winter, one that could leave Northern California wishing for more water when spring arrives.
