Each and every year, the ole Farmers' Almanac makes predictions - sometimes with fascinating accuracy, others not so much - for seasons and what to expect. Winter is, obviously (and maybe especially) no exception. You might be surprised about the winter predictions for South Dakota this year, though - surprised in the sense that, after last year being a bit unusual, with many areas seeing record snowfall, everything looks on track to be, for the most part, relatively uneventful. This can be great news if you're not a huge fan of lots of snowfall, or maybe groanworthy if you're not - but either way, it's kind of a relief if you ask me.

Let's be real: Winter in South Dakota can be downright brutal... but we're tough, and we can handle it.

According to the Farmers' Almanac, this coming winter in South Dakota (2024-2025, to be exact) is on track to be, well, mostly average: cold and snowy, but not overly so, like the 2022-2023 season was.

So what exactly counts as "normal" in terms of a South Dakota winter?

Well, like I said - it's definitely cold, with many winter days never reaching above freezing (especially in January).

The Farmers Almanac 2024 predicts there will likely be a few winter storm events, maybe even a blizzard - but we've pretty much come to expect that. Overall, the winter weather predictions in South Dakota appear to be pretty lackluster! Looks like we are in for a mild and dry winter.

Plus, it's not like our state becomes some white dead zone at this time of year. There are plenty of fun things to do in the winter in South Dakota.

Driving probably isn't one of them, but hey, be careful and head outdoors anyway.

You can always take a short trip to the snowiest town in South Dakota, which is a great little getaway.

South Dakota is an awesome place for some excellent winter hikes, as well. If you plan on embarking on a wintry adventure, make sure you've got an AllTrails + account to help you navigate the snowy paths.

If you prefer to spend your winter in South Dakota cuddled up by the fire, you can’t go wrong with a weekend away at Hisega Lodge. Tucked away in the Black Hills, this is one of our favorite places to go during winter. 

I mean, I personally wouldn't get down in the snow like that, but you do you. I get it. I'm not here to judge. But I digress: Visit any of the amazing South Dakota state parks that are open year-round, and if you're feeling adventurous, you might even want to check out some of the campgrounds in South Dakota that are open year-round, too.

No matter what you choose to do, there's something incredibly magical about winter in South Dakota... and the Farmers Almanac says it ought to be an average one.

....which, to us, is pretty good news.

Even though the winter weather predictions in South Dakota are predicted to be mild and dry, don't go putting away your shovel just yet. The Farmer's Almanac has an 80% success rate with these seasonal predictions, but there's always the chance a big snowstorm could take us by surprise.

You know, at least it's very unlikely that this winter in South Dakota will be anything like the coldest winter in South Dakota history, so we got that going for us, which is nice. And if you need something warm to wear in the cold, you might want to check out the offerings from our friends at LL Bean.

What are your favorite things to do in South Dakota during the winter? Let me know in the comments.