Winter forecasts for the Northeast published: This is what meteorologists expect

According to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), heavy rainfall is expected in the areas shown in the darkest shade of green in the first image above, including northern New York State and northern New England.

In the rest of the northeast, the amount of snowfall is “above average” (shown in light green).

According to NOAA, temperatures should also be above average. (See second picture above.)

The Old Farmer's Almanac, which has been in existence since 1792, sings a slightly different song and predicts a mild and dry winter for the Northeast.

“There will be plenty of snow – but precipitation and snowfall will be slightly below normal,” it says.

According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, the success rate of its predictions is 80 percent.

“In the Northeast – Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine and Eastern New York – winter is always cold and snowy,” the forecast says. “But we are predicting a milder than normal season that is not as harsh and severe.”

“This winter, temperatures will rise and snowfall will decrease across most of the United States,” reports Carol Connare, editor in chief of the Old Farmer's Almanac. “Although most slopes will still see cool temperatures and snow, the high heating costs associated with the season should not be as significant.”

A similarly named but separate publication, the Farmers' Almanac, states: “The winter in New England and the Northeast will be stormy, with above-average precipitation and nearly above-average temperatures.”

“Snow will be mostly inland and mountainous areas, while sleet and rain will be more common near the coast, especially near and along the I-95 corridor.”

It goes on to say that “the coldest temperatures of the season are expected in the last week of January through early February, when icy Arctic air causes a sharp drop in temperatures across most of the country.”

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