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Enjoy the summer while it lasts.

The 2019 Farmers’ Almanac is predicting a “teeth-chattering cold” winter. And Chicago along with the rest of the Midwest will likely see above-normal snowfall.

“It’s going to be very cold,” said Sandi Duncan, managing editor of the Farmers’ Almanac. “We do see a good amount of snow for the Chicago area.”

We’ll see the first snowfall of the season by the end of November, which is early, Duncan said. From there the Chicago area is likely to see some heavy lake-effect snow and a wintry mix in December. Frigid air will come in January and remain through February, with a potentially delayed spring after the brutal winter.

The Farmers’ Almanac forecast is based “on a mathematical and astronomical formula developed in 1818.”

Now before you despair, a competitor to the Farmers’ Almanac says it isn’t going to be so bad. The Old Farmer’s Almanac, a precursor to the Farmers’ Almanac founded in 1792, says an oppressive winter may not be coming after all.

The Old Farmer’s Almanac is offering a milder-than-normal forecast, citing “a decrease in solar activity” and a weak El Nino in the Pacific Ocean, meaning cold air masses won’t stick around.

“Sometimes we have similar outlooks but this year is very different,” said Duncan with the Farmer’s Almanac. “We’re standing by our teeth-chattering cold.”

The National Weather Service warns against taking any long-range predictions too seriously.

“There’s no published science explaining what’s behind it,” said NWS meteorologist Gino Izzi about the almanacs’ predictions. “It’s kind of an enigma as far as what goes into it.”

Izzi cautioned against forecasting three to five months in advance, but said there is currently a better chance of above-average temperatures in winter.

But, said Izzi, “just because you have a mild winter doesn’t mean there won’t be periods of cold and potentially periods of extreme cold.”

Jim Angel, the Illinois state climatologist, said he’s also not sure he believes either almanac. Generally, he thinks Chicago is more likely to have a mild winter, because of a trend toward warmer winter temperatures.

As for precipitation, Izzi and Angel said there are no clear signals on how much will hit the city.

“Unfortunately, there is not a strong indication of how precipitation will play out this winter in the official forecast,” said Angel. “In past El Nino events, there is a tendency to be drier and to get rain instead of snow due to warmer temperatures. However, all it takes is one big winter storm to ruin that forecast.”

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