Snowier-Than-Normal Winter for Illinois: Old Farmer's Almanac Long-Range Forecast for 2016-2017

The Old Farmer's Almanac's long-range weather predictions for the rest of 2016 and the start of 2017 foretell of a "warmer than normal" winter but more snow in Illinois and the lower Great Lakes region.

The coldest period, of course, will be from mid-December through late February. We'll see more snow in early to mid-December, again in mid-January, and again pretty much the entire month of February, according to the Almanac.

Our neighbors to the north in Wisconsin and Minnesota are expected to see a colder than normal winter, according to the Almanac.

Past predictions have been 80 percent accurate, the Almanac boasts.

"Our famous predictions ... are made 18 months in advance, and meant to help you make more informed decisions for long-term planning," the publication says.

Every part of the country will experience a different misery, according to the Almanac.

• Lots of rain and chilly weather in the Pacific Northwest.
• Warmer and less snowy in the Appalachian, Rockies and Intermountain regions (where they want snow for skiing).
• Hurricanes in the Northeast, followed by a colder-than-normal winter.

Here's what's predicted for the Chicago area through next fall:

September: Temperature 65° (3° above avg.); precipitation 2.5" (1" below avg.); Sep 1-3: Sunny, warm; Sep 4-11: T-storms, then sunny, cool; Sep 12-19: Showers, cool; Sep 20-25: Sunny, quite warm; Sep 26-30: Showers, turning cool.

Winter: Winter will be warmer than normal, with above-normal precipitation. The coldest periods will be in late December and early to mid-January and from mid-January into early February. Snowfall will be above normal in Illinois and below normal elsewhere, with the snowiest periods in mid-November, late December, early and late January, mid-February, and early March

Spring: April and May will be warmer and slightly drier than normal.

Summer: Good news, maybe? Summer will be slightly cooler and rainier than normal.

Fall: September and October will be wetter and slightly cooler than normal.