Winter is coming - and it looks like it could be a rough one if you believe in this sort of thing.

As always, I have to give my usual disclaimer: some people believe in the methodology of the Old Farmer's Almanac and others do not.

Whatever you believe, you can't deny you get a bit of a chill down your spine when you read about how bad of a winter it is going to be despite the outlet writing about it.

That time of the year has officially arrived, as the Old Farmer's Almanac has shared some insight into things that may impact their 2024 - 2025 winter weather forecast.

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Roger Mcclean
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What Is In The Forecast?

Let's get right to it. First and foremost, the Old Farmer's Almanac says this winter will be "very different than last winter" across the country, based on a few different factors they expect to impact the forecast.

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Considering we had one of the mildest winters ever last winter, we can expect a pretty harsh and bitter winter season this time around. Sigh.

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What Else?

Want more proof that this could be an especially cold winter? (Yes, I know a cold winter is the norm in these parts.) The Old Farmer's Almanac cites La Niña, saying we could expect one this winter season.

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A La Niña winter typically means a more intense winter season than usual, which is saying a lot for us in our neck of the woods. Not only that, but a La Niña winter also means more frequent arctic outbreaks. Sounds lovely!

GENNADIY BALOVLENKOV
GENNADIY BALOVLENKOV
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But There's More...

Last but not least, the Old Farmer's Almanac also says we should be preparing for a possible polar vortex in Minnesota and Wisconsin, writing:

Combinations of these factors can also cause the polar vortex to drop added flashes of cold into North America.

Pairing the possibility of a La Niña winter with everything else the Old Farmer's Almanac is writing about and we may want to start bracing for an especially rough winter ahead.

In conclusion, I'd like to believe that we are going to see a very cold and snowy winter, simply because we got off too easy last winter!

The 15 Snowiest Winters On Record In Duluth History

Since the National Weather Service began keeping weather records in Duluth in the late 1800s, here are the 15 winters with the highest snowfall totals on historical record.

It is worth noting that the official records from 1941-today have been recorded at the area now known as the Duluth International Airport (away from the lake, on top of the hill). Before then, various locations closer to Lake Superior had been used for official weather recording data. For anyone that knows anything about how Lake Superior and the hill play a role in temperature and snow, you can see how this makes older records inherently different.

While these records note the "snowiest winters", they actually include all seasonal snowfall from July 1 through June 30 of the following year.

Gallery Credit: Nick Cooper - TSM Duluth

Things Kids Do That Drive Minnesota Parents Nuts In The Winter

Winter can be a stressful time in Minnesota. It can be one of the toughest times to be a parent. I asked parents in Minnesota the question, "What do your kids do in the winter that drives you nuts?" Here are those answers that I'm sure you can relate to.

Gallery Credit: Ken Hayes