The current frigid weather conditions we've been living under for what seems like months here in Northern Illinois are starting to get on people's nerves and it shows. Right about now, a lot of us in Northern Illinois are wondering if spring will ever appear here. So let's take a look at what the big long-range predictors like the Farmer’s Almanac, the Old Farmer’s Almanac, and some seasoned weather pros are forecasting for spring this year. If you flip through their forecasts, both the Farmers' and Old Farmer’s Almanac are suggesting a gradual warming trend for the Northern Illinois region, but not without some classic Midwest mood swings. The Old Farmer's Almanac long range spring forecast says that the country will trend toward warmer-than-average temperatures overall, with precipitation that varies regionally.