Not only does The 2026 Old Farmer’s Almanac Canadian Edition predict a “wet and mild” winter for Canada – it also explores the impact of Canada’s immigrants on crop diversity and how Canadian farmers are saving the soil.
Associate Editor Joe Bills says this winter is looking to be warmer than normal with more precipitation than normal.
For southern Alberta, Bills adds, the warmer than normal temperatures will bring more precipitation. “But more often than not, that precipitation is going to come down as rain.”
“You’ll have lower snow totals than usual, but higher precipitation totals.”
Going further north in the province, Bills notes, there will be plenty of snow with milder temperatures. “This is still Alberta. When we talk about warmer weather, by anybody else’s standards, it’s still mighty cold.”
“But as you move north, those mild temperatures just mean more moisture in the air. It will be cold enough in the north – that’s just going to mean more snow,” Bills explains.
The way the publication does its forecast, Bills adds, is when it talks about things being warmer or colder, “we’re not necessarily comparing it to last year.”
“We’re comparing it to a 30-year average. In our printed forecast, it says the coldest periods will be in late November and early December, but that’s not technically true. Those are the periods that will be the most below of what they normally are. We have an average temperature in January of minus eight. Whereas November is only minus two, but November is more below normal than minus two than in January’s minus eight,” says Bills. “We’re looking at a winter where the cold is going to set in pretty early.”
In November, there’s already going to be some cold weather, Bills adds. “There’s going to be snow in the air, as early as early to mid-November. We have the last mention of snow in the forecast all the way in May.”
“It’s going to be an Alberta winter,” Bills jokes.
According to Bills, The Old Farmer’s Almanac is one of the longest continually published periodicals in North America. “The first one came out in 1792. This is our 234th year. The dedicated Canadian edition we’ve been doing since 1982, so not nearly as long. But that certainly is developing a legacy all of its own.”
Almanacs were very common back in the day, Bills notes. “This was one of many almanacs when it started. Robert B. Thomas had some smart ideas about forecasting the weather and various bits of information an almanac should provide to be useful to as many people as possible.”
Thomas was a big believer that solar activity, sunspots and things like that on the sun were having a measurable and chartable effect on weather on the Earth, Bills explains. “Over the years, there has proven to be some truth to that, so that is one of many elements we still look at and makes our forecast a little unique. We still pay attention to his solar science.”
“We also consult with meteorologists, climatologists and look at all the satellite models. We embrace our modern technology too.”
Bills says the book is remarkably unchanged. “You’ll find all sorts of charts, astrology, astronomy, tides and many aspects of farming – just everything dealing with the way the Earth works.”
“We try to supplement that each year with a whole collection of fun stories.”
The 2026 Old Farmer’s Almanac Canadian Edition is now available everywhere books and magazines are sold.
Written By: Stan Ashbee – Vista Radio
