With an average temperature of about 80 degrees recently, it's hard to imagine stepping outside to be greeted with winter weather. Even when this winter comes, you are not likely to experience too many cold days.

According to The Old Farmer's Almanac, which has been predicting weather patterns for 227 years with an apparent 80 percent degree of accuracy, you should expect a warmer than normal winter.

The method by which such predictions are made involves a "top secret mathematical and astronomical formula, that relies on sunspot activity, tidal action, planetary position and many other factors." These predictions are made 16 months in advance.

According to the Almanac, winter will be warmer than normal this winter season. The prediction covers the region in which we live as a whole and is not limited to West Virginia alone.

The region also includes Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Indiana and Missouri.

As August passes and we enter September, the Almanac predicts a month comprised mostly of rain, with brief periods of sun. The first couple of weeks will be cool with a few showers, while the rest of the month is expected to be frequently stormy.

The first half of the month will be comprised of a few showers and cool weather, but by September 14, the Ohio valley can expect frequent thunderstorms coupled with warmer temperatures.

October and November will be warmer than usual with below average snowfall, and above normal rain. So basically, it will be cool and rainy for the most part, with very little chance of snow. As for West Virginia, we don't typically get our first snow until late November or early December, and this year the snowiest period will be early to mid December, so that may be more or less on track.

It will be coldest starting around mid to late December and late January to early February. It is at the beginning of February where it will be snowiest for 2019, with snowfall to be more of less comparable to the December predictions.

So, snow is not expected to be absent this year, bur we will have an overall milder winter. By the time we get to April and May, it will be warmer than normal with average rainfall for the time period. By next summer, expect cooler temperatures and more rainfall. These predictions are probably no surprise as we are entering a period of time when environmental conditions are giving us consistently warmer weather.

So, it is hard to say how accurate these predictions will turn out to be. Only time will tell. So dust off those raincoats for the coming months and have those winter coats waiting in queue - you may not need them all winter long, but you will need them.

Are you looking forward to a milder winter, or do you prefer a cold winter with lots of snow? Feel free to comment below and join the discussion.