We’re still in the middle of summer in the Chicago area, but the Farmer’s Almanac has already released its winter weather projections. So what is the publication saying will happen in the Chicago area? The Farmers Almanac claims accuracy of around 80%, and says that while independent reviews put “actual accuracy somewhat lower, it’s still meaningfully above chance.” One thing that could significantly impact winter weather in the Chicago area is an emerging El Niño pattern in the Pacific Ocean. The Farmers Almanac is projecting wet and warm conditions in the south for the coming winter, and that does typically occur during El Niño patterns, according to the university.