Whether there's an El Nino brewing or not, popular farmers's almanacs say this could be a milder winter than normal.
Science tends to snub sunspots and cycles.
Almanacs defend their records - even when the forecast wasn't quite what it predicted because the pros can blow it too. This year is somewhat different. Almanacs and forecasters think this will be a fairly mild winter. That doesn't mean both groups are calling for a consistently mild winter. Blum's Almanac thinks the chance for colder weather and snow winter will be from late December and again in February.