Farmers' Almanac: Bundle Up For Illinois Winter Predictions

ILLINOIS — Summer doesn't officially end until Sept. 23, but we've already gotten a taste of the cooler days to come here in the Land of Lincoln. And while many yearn for the crisp fall air and even the winter snow, others are dreading the inevitable temperature plunge. But it's coming.

You can look forward to a "frozen, snowy" winter, with more snow than usual in Illinois this year — at least if you believe the good folks from the Farmers' Almanac.

The centuries-old forecaster is predicting the Illinois can expect "above normal precipitation" for the Prairie State during the winter months.

And what about Labor Day weekend, summer's last hurrah? The almanac is calling for "unseasonably chilly temperatures" in the Midwest for Sept. 1 to 3.

"The Northeast, including the densely populated corridor running from Washington to Boston, will experience colder-than-normal temperatures for much of the upcoming winter," said the almanac.

"Only the western third of the country will see near-normal winter temperatures, which means fewer shivers for them."

According to the Farmers' Almanac, the coldest outbreak of the season should arrive during the final week of January and last through the beginning of February.

And for those of us already looking forward to spring 2020, there's some bad news: "Spring will be slow to start with winter lingering across the Midwest, Great Lakes, Northeast, and New England. Occasional wet snow and unseasonably chilly conditions will hang on for a ride that you may not be able to get off until April!"

The Farmers' Almanac doesn't use satellite data or other methods to make predictions, but rather a "secret" mathematical and astronomical formula based on factors such as sunspot activity and the tidal action of the moon.

Patch reporter Gus Saltonstall contributed to this report.