Farmers' Almanac Winter Weather Forecast Warns of Changeable Snow, Ice, and Rain – Prepare Your Yard Now to Protect Your Plants

The Farmers' Almanac has released its winter weather forecast, predicting sharp contrasts between snowstorms and milder rainy conditions across the US. This first insight makes it easy to start prepping the winter garden so your precious plants make it through unharmed.

Trusted source of weather predictions for Canada and the US, the Farmers' Almanac, says to 'prepare for a winter of snow, sleet, and surprises' when thinking about your winter gardening checklist. Southern regions should focus on preparing gardens for snowstorms, while northern regions could have unpredictable cold snaps that wipe out plants quickly. Meanwhile, rainfall across the country calls for our yards to be more flood-resilient.

So, now is the time to get your hands on things like this frost cloth from Amazon and make changes to your yard to cope with the incoming winter conditions. Here's what the Farmers' Almanac winter forecast 2026 means for your garden.

Prepare for Snowstorms

The Farmers' Almanac winter forecast 2026 warns, 'El Niño is expected to remain an important influence through the heart of the season, favoring wetter-than-normal conditions across much of the southern United States.'

From Southern California and the Desert Southwest, through Texas, the Gulf Coast, and the Southeast, the report warns to 'watch for frequent storm systems, muddy fields, and occasional surges of cold air.'

The report also notes for much of the West, northern Plains, Upper Midwest, and Great Lakes, 'fast-moving clippers, sudden cold snaps, and brief snowy periods are likely.

'Farther north, the Plains, Midwest, and Great Lakes could experience sudden snow squalls, blustery winds, and bursts of bitter cold,' it continues.

This calls for preparing your yard for a storm and protecting plants from frost and snow.

You can use plant cloches (like these from Amazon) and frost cloths (which are also available at Walmart), and consider moving tender plants undercover, such as into a conservatory or greenhouse.

And if you're wondering whether you should remove snow from plants, it's not always necessary. It can actually provide insulation, much like mulching (putting down a layer of this brown mulch from Lowe's in fall can protect plant roots from freezing).

Make Your Yard More Flood-Resilient

As well as preparing for snow, much of the US is expected to have high rainfall this winter season.

'Coastal communities could receive more rain or mixed precipitation, while inland areas may be hit by several rounds of heavy, wet snow,' the report reads.

The storms in the South will also bring rain, and 'a second storm path may guide weather systems along the Eastern Seaboard, bringing additional opportunities for rain, wintry mixes, and snow from the mid-Atlantic into New England.'

Taking steps to make your yard more flood-resilient now can help it cope better with water surface run-off later in the season and stop your lawn becoming waterlogged.

This includes installing a French drain, aerating your lawn (with this lawn aerator tool from Amazon), and growing flood-resilient plants, like astilbe (which you can find in a wide range of colors at Plant Addicts).

There are also plenty of garden drainage ideas to consider adopting, including adding drainage channels to your patio to stop flooding.

What to Shop

As the report summarizes, 'keep the snow shovel, rain boots, and ice scraper close at hand. This winter, you may need all three.'

You can make your winter garden more low-maintenance by opting for the best winter plants for pots that can cope with these conditions. Plus, consider these ideas to make your yard more resilient in extreme weather for more long-term solutions.

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