It's the first day of winter: What is the seasonal weather outlook for Delaware?
Winter solstice is here − not only the shortest day and longest night of the year, but also the first day of winter.
Thursday, Dec. 21, marks the beginning of longer days and shorter nights.
With the beginning of winter, many may be wondering: How much snow will we get this year?
Last winter, Delaware barely received any snow, but predictions say it may be somewhat of the opposite this winter.
Although Delaware has already had some snow flurries, here are the predictions for how winter is supposed to go this season.
The 2023-24 Farmers' Almanac
Since 1818, the Farmers' Almanac has predicted the seasons ahead of the United States. This year's winter outlook, titled "The BRRR is Back!," might give a clue into how winter is predicted to go this season.
The forecast, which is based on astronomical and mathematical formulas, predicts "below-average temperatures and lots of snowstorms, sleet, ice, rain for much of the Great Lakes, Ohio Valley, and Midwest areas of the country, as well as central and northern New England, especially in January and February."
According to their map, Delaware is expected to have a frosty, flaky and slushy winter.
Will Delaware have a white Christmas?
The possibility is looking quite slim in terms of a white Christmas for Delaware.
The forecast's high temperature is predicted to be near 49 degrees in New Castle County, according to the National Weather Service.
There is a chance of rain on Christmas night, however, so those celebrating should be on the lookout for that.
When is the last day of winter?
For those who do not enjoy cold weather and are looking for the end of winter as it starts, many may be wondering, when is the last day of winter?
According to the Almanac, the astronomical start date of spring is Tuesday, March 19. The meteorological start date is Friday, March 1.
However, Delaware has a long way to go before the end is in sight.
Winter predictions from the Old Farmer's Almanac
Yes, there are two of them. However, the Old Farmer's Almanac claims they are older than the Farmers' Almanac, stating that they have been predicting the weather since 1792.
So, how much snow will Delaware get according to this?
The Atlantic corridor, which Delaware is included in, is predicted to have above-normal winter precipitation and snowfall with 2 to 3 inches above monthly averages.
In short, both almanacs gave somewhat similar predictions.
Read: Is warm the new norm? How a lack of snowfall in Delaware is bad news for crops
The NOAA seasonal forecast predicts warmer-than-average winter for Delaware
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Climate Prediction Center, a branch of the National Weather Service, releases three-month outlooks for weather in the U.S.
Though many predictions are in favor of a cold winter, the NOAA forecast still predicted a warmer-than-average season for Delaware.
Delaware is also expected to have greater-than-average wet conditions, as precipitation is expected to rise, according to the NOAA.
However, certain weather patterns cannot be predicted until more than one or two weeks before, such as the Arctic Oscillation, which can bring extreme cold temperatures across the central and eastern U.S. − including Delaware.
The Climate Prediction Center provides only probability forecasts for temperature and precipitation, which are predicted by looking at weather patterns like El Niño.
Read: Top hidden vacation spots in Delaware you should visit this winter, what to do
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: When is the Winter Solstice 2023? See Delaware snow predictions
