Snowy winter coming? Check out 5 forecaster predictions for the New Jersey region.

We still have weeks to go before the winter season officially begins, but weather forecasters have already taken a deep look into the future, analyzing atmospheric trends and making early predictions about how cold and snowy it could be.

After three straight winters of below-average snow in New Jersey, is it time to dust off the snow shovels and blowers? Or can we store them in the back corner of the garage?

Here is an overview of the early winter forecasts for the 2024-2025 season issued by the National Weather Service, AccuWeather and other private forecasting companies.

AccuWeather

AccuWeather is forecasting warmer-than-average temperatures and less snow than normal next winter in the Garden State and many major cities and metropolitan areas in the eastern United States, including New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Boston.

For snow enthusiasts, the winter forecast looks brighter across much of inland New England and other parts of the far northern United States

AccuWeather forecasters say warm water temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico and North Pacific, a weak La Niña weather pattern and a narrow polar vortex are three major factors contributing to the weather outlook this winter.

Climate Prediction Center

In their winter outlook for the 2024-2025 season released Oct. 17, forecasters at the Climate Prediction Center — which is affiliated with the National Weather Service — said a slow-developing La Niña weather pattern would likely play a role in shaping the coming season .

The agency forecast warmer-than-average temperatures in the Garden State — along with New York and most of Pennsylvania — but made no specific predictions about how wet or snowy the upcoming winter season will be in those areas of the country.

The winter outlook says the New Jersey region has “equal chances of below-average, near-average or above-average total seasonal precipitation.”

Not particularly helpful for skiers, snowboarders and snowplow drivers.

NY NJ PA weather

In its winter forecast issued in late October, private weather forecasting company New Jersey PA said that “a slowly developing La Niña, a strengthening polar vortex and very warm waters in the tropical Atlantic” will all be important factors in the coming winter’s temperatures and storm patterns.

“The polar jet stream will become even stronger, resulting in a high storm threat over the eastern two-thirds of the country,” the Monmouth County-based company said.

NY NJ PA Weather says the northwest region of New Jersey can expect near-average temperatures and near-normal to slightly above-average snowfall accumulation this winter.

Most of northern and central New Jersey will likely experience near normal to slightly above normal temperatures and near normal to slightly below normal snowfall. However, the company says a change in pattern could result in a little more snowfall in those areas of the state.

South Jersey will likely experience above-average temperatures and below-average snowfall accumulation this winter. However, the company cannot rule out the possibility of “significant snowfall” in this region.

Farmer’s Almanac

Snow lovers in New Jersey will probably like the Farmers’ Almanac’s winter forecast. (New Jersey is part of the release’s Northeast forecast zone.)

“The winter in New England and the Northeast will be stormy with above-average amounts of winter precipitation and near-above-average temperatures,” the release said.

“Snow will be most common in inland and mountainous areas,” it continued, “while sleet and rain will be more common near the coast, particularly near and along the I-95 corridor.”

Old Farmer’s Almanac

The Old Farmer’s Almanac, a rival publication of the Farmers’ Almanac, is predicting a “quieter, milder winter season” across much of the United States, including New Jersey.

Milder temperatures than normal and less snow than average are expected for New Jersey, the New York City metropolitan area and eastern Pennsylvania for the coming winter season.

“We’re predicting a moderate, uneventful winter – perhaps a welcome change from the extremes of recent years,” said Carol Connare, editor-in-chief of the Old Farmer’s Almanac.

First day of winter

By the way, weather agencies such as the National Weather Service consider the first day of winter to be December 1st, with the winter season encompassing all of December, January and February.

The more common winter season, called astronomical winter, begins on December 21, 2024 and lasts until March 20, 2025.

Astronomical seasons are based on the position of the Earth and the Sun, while meteorological seasons are based on annual temperature cycles.

Current weather radar