Farmer’ s Hot Line Almanac
2025 Weather Outlook
Trends to Help American Farmers Plan Ahead
By Mara Watts
As most farmers know, weather forecasts hold many surprises and opportunities for the growing season. In 2025, meteorologists are predicting that the weather will set the stage for shifting storm tracks and unseasonable conditions.
To begin the year, AccuWeather long-range experts state that the stormy pattern at the end of 2024 will continue into 2025 across much of the western U. S. Milder air, however, is expected to bring a January thaw to parts of the eastern U. S.
February could bring colder and wintry weather back to parts of the eastern U. S. in the final month of winter. While across the West, a shift from the January pattern could bring rain and storms.
Key Weather Patterns for 2025
Looking to the future, a few key weather patterns and anomalies are anticipated for 2025 in the U. S., including:
Drier Conditions Drought is a concern for the Southwest, due to a drier winter season, extending into the spring and summer. This could be especially notable in the wheat and cotton region.
“ This can also lead to a more persistent high-pressure area, which can send a storm track across the northern Rockies through the Midwest and East,” said Paul Pastelok,
What About Snow?
Snow is certainly in the forecast for several regions across America: Ŋ Not Expected: Florida Ŋ Below Average: Northeast, Upper Midwest, Heartland, Texas and Oklahoma, Atlantic Corridor, Appalachians, Lower Lakes, Southern Pacific Northwest Ŋ Average: High Plains Ŋ Above Average: Southeast, Intermountain, Desert Southwest, Northern Pacific Northwest, Ohio Valley, Pacific Southwest
* Source: Farmers Almanac
AccuWeather’ s lead long-range expert. The overall projected pattern for spring and early summer shows: wetter Midwest, Ohio and Tennessee Valley, at times in the Northeast. Wet in the Pacific Northwest through late winter is possible. Drier conditions are more likely for the southern Plains and Southwest.
High Water Temperatures Higher temperatures in the Northern Pacific may warm during the springtime.“ This can help contribute to drier conditions at times in the middle of the summer in the Northwest,” Pastelok added.
In the Gulf, waters can warm, which can lead to an increase in heavier rain events for the central Gulf States, Tennessee Valley and Ohio Valley during the planting and growing season.
8 | 515-574-2341 | 515-574-2189 | February 2025