You Might Be Surprised To Hear The Predictions About Northern California’s Upcoming Winter

Well, we did some digging into the Old Farmers’ Almanac predictions for 2025-2026, and discovered that Northern California can look forward to a fairly nice winter. In fact, the temperatures should be average, and we will still receive some precipitation—it certainly won't be the worst winter in California history.

Of course, it's important to remember that Northern California is a region with diverse topography, so the weather will vary from region to region. If you live in the Bay Area, for example, expect some rain showers this winter, but typically below average precipitation. And if you’re in the northernmost part of the state, you might experience some heavier snowfall, but nothing out of the ordinary.

If you are like me and want to prepare for any winter storms, the Old Farmer's Almanac predicts the stormiest periods for Northern California will be late January and early February. This means that a late winter ski or snowboarding trip should be planned—Lake Tahoe, anyone?

Of course, it isn't just precipitation we need to prepare for—cold spells also need to be on our radar! Fortunately, the Old Farmer's Almanac predicts that this year, Northern California will see above-average temperatures. But make sure you still pull out your sweaters and boots. Cold periods are expected to arrive in late January and late February.

In fact, the Old Farmer's Almanac is predicting a wobble in the polar vortex. This means that we could see some bursts of extremely cold air throughout the winter months. We need to be prepared for anything this year.

The Old Farmer's Almanac bases its predictions on solar science, climatology, and historical weather patterns. While there's no guarantee, it has been predicting seasonal weather for decades—the oldest Almanac was founded in 1792!

Just make me a promise: don't let these winter weather predictions for 2025-2026 keep you cooped up indoors. There are so many wonderful things to do in the winter in Northern California. Check out a few of our favorite winter activities and even some of our favorite NorCal winter trails.

Feeling inspired? Try planning your own winter adventure in NorCal using Only In Your State’s itinerary planner.