After a relatively modest winter in Des Moines and other parts of Iowa in terms of snowfall and cool temperatures, the Farmers' Almanac predicts it's going to be a cold winter 2025-26.
Here's what to know about the Farmer's Almanac's forecast for the upcoming fall and winter seasons in Iowa.
What's the fall outlook for Iowa?
Fall officially begins Sept. 22 with the arrival of the fall equinox. Expect warmer temperatures to start the season before colder conditions arrive in the North Central region and states in the Northeast, especially by late October and into November.
Iowa is part of the North Central region, which includes neighboring states such as Missouri, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas, as well as more western states like Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana.
Another view: What's the forecast for fall 2025 in Iowa? See the Old Farmer's Almanac's prediction
When will it snow in Iowa?
The Farmer's Almanac is predicting a "classic winter wonderland" this winter for Iowa and the rest of the North Central states, with the region expecting a very cold and snowy winter, Farmers' Almanac Editor Sandi Duncan told USA TODAY.
The season’s first snowflakes are expected in the northern Rockies and Montana as early as October, with snowfall reaching the Great Lakes and Northeast by mid-to-late October. Since Iowa sits between these regions, the Farmer's Almanac predicts that the state will see its first snow by mid-to-late November.
How was last winter in Iowa?
Des Moines received 14 inches of snow from December to March last winter. The season’s first snowfall over 0.1 inches fell on Dec. 2, and the last on March 30, according to the National Weather Service. The last time the city received more than an inch of snow was on March 5.
Des Moines received only 41% of its normal snowfall for the winter season, according to NWS data. Typically, the city receives just over 34 inches of snow per season, with Des Moines receiving 35 inches of snow during the 2023-24 winter and 33 inches the year prior.
These were the average monthly temperatures for winter 2024-25 in Des Moines compared to the average monthly temperatures from the previous 10 winters.
Month: 2024-25 average (average from last 10 winters)
December: 30.8 degrees (31 degrees)
January: 21.7 degrees (24 degrees)
Febuary: 23.5 degrees (27 degrees)
March: 46 degrees (41 degrees)
How does the Farmer's Almanac make predictions?
The Farmer's Almanac has been publishing long-range weather predictions since 1818. The publication states that it examines factors such as sunspot activity, tidal action and the planet's position to make weather predictions two years in advance.
The publication uses a secret mathematical and astronomical formula that is only known by its forecasters, who go by the pseudonym Caleb Weatherbee. The Farmer's Almanac claims it is accurate 80-85% of the time. The publication also reviews its weather forecast accuracy from past seasons on its website.
Cooper Worth is a service/trending reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at [email protected] or follow him on X @CooperAWorth.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: When will it snow in Iowa? Farmers' Almanac makes fall prediction.
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