Winter is closing in, and long-range forecasters are calling this season “mostly mild with pockets of wild.” Both the Old Farmer’s Almanac and AccuWeather see a weak-to-neutral La Niña shaping a split jet stream — meaning moisture pushed south and uneven cold across the country. In the Northeast, expect near-normal temperatures overall, with some warmer stretches but also Nor’easter risks and bursts of lake-effect snow. OFA says snowfall will lean lighter than average. The Mid-Atlantic trends mild with above-average rain. Snowfall stays limited except in the higher elevations, where ice is still a concern. Down in the Southeast and Deep South, it’s a mixed bag: near-normal temps, more moisture in the west, and February looks like the coldest month — with increased risk for ice, especially in Alabama, Georgia, and the Carolinas. The Great Lakes and Upper Midwest are the opposite: colder than normal, windy, and primed for above-average snow thanks to fast-moving storms and lake-effect bands. Out West, conditions split — the Southwest stays warm and dry, while the Northwest and northern Rockies get early-season storms before a milder February. Overall? A lighter winter for some, a stormy one for others, and plenty of variability coast to coast.

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