AccuWeather Winter Prediction For Michigan: 'Arctic Cold'

MICHIGAN — Don’t look now, but winter is coming. Accuweather has released a new, long-range winter weather forecast that’s predicting an “arctic cold” winter for Michigan.

AccuWeather long-range forecaster Paul Pastelok says the entire Midwest region will experience an Arctic cold winter.

"The polar vortex is particularly strong this year, and that means that frigid air is likely to remain locked up over the polar region early in winter,” Pastelok said. Instead, cold air that could reach the Midwest at times early in the season is likely to originate from a Siberian Connection, rather than straight from the North Pole, and that has implications on just how cold it will get.

However, conditions may change and allow the polar vortex and accompanying Arctic air to bust loose later during the winter, he said.

Across the United States, AccuWeather’s winter prediction is showing an above-normal season for snowfall in the Northeast and Midwest, heavy rainfall in the Southeast, and ample snowfall in the Southwest and California.

Credit: AccuWeather has released its predictions for the winter of 2019-20 for the United States

What Do The Farmers’ Almanac And Old Farmer’s Almanac Predict For Winter?

AccuWeather isn’t the only organization that’s released a 2019-20 winter prediction, but consensus can be hard to find when it comes to weather.

Followers of the Farmers’ Almanac for instance, are bracing for a snowy, bone-chilling season. Meanwhile, forecasters at the rival Old Farmer’s Almanac are predicting more rain than snow.

The two meteorological publishers have almost identical names, but their long-range forecasts could not be more different.

The Farmers’ Almanac says to prepare for frozen, snowy conditions. The Old Farmer’s Almanac promises “soakers.”

Both outfits use secret formulas to predict the weather that they keep closely guarded, and only time — and winter — will tell which one has it right.