do you believe the farmers almanac?

"Brrr! Almanac Predicts Cold, Wet Winter"


"Numb's the word," says the 192-year-old publication, which claims an accuracy rate of 80 to 85 percent for its forecasts that are prepared two years in advance.
The almanac's 2009 edition, which goes on sale Tuesday, says at least two-thirds of the country can expect colder-than-average temperatures this winter, with only the Far West and Southeast in line for near-normal readings.
"This is going to be catastrophic for millions of people," said almanac editor Peter Geiger.
The almanac predicts above-normal snowfall for the Great Lakes and Midwest, especially during January and February, and above-normal precipitation for the Southwest in December and for the Southeast in January and February. The Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions will likely have an unusually wet or snowy February, the almanac said.
In contrast, the usually wet Pacific Northwest could be a bit drier than normal in February.
Looking ahead to summer, the almanac foresees near-normal temperatures in most places. But much of the Southwest should prepare for unusually hot weather in June and July, while Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas will get oppressive July heat and humidity.
The almanac — not to be confused with the New Hampshire-based Old Farmer's Almanac which is 26 years older — attributes its forecasts to reclusive prognosticator Caleb Weatherbee, who uses a secret formula based on sunspots, the position of the planets and the tidal action of the moon.
Weatherbee's outlook is borne out by e-mails the almanac has received in recent days from readers who have spotted signs of nature they say point to a rough winter, Geiger said. These folklore signs range from an abundance of acorns already on the ground to the frequency of fog in August.
The almanac is at odds with the National Weather Service, whose trends-based outlook calls for warmer than normal weather this winter over much of the country, including Alaska, said Ed O'Lenic, chief of the operations branch at NOAA's Climate Prediction Center. The almanac and the weather service are in sync, however, in pointing to a chance of a drier winter in the Northwest.
O'Lenic wouldn't comment specifically on the almanac's ability to forecast the weather two years from now, but said it's generally impossible to come up with accurate forecasts more than a week in advance.
"Of course it's possible to prepare a forecast with any lead time you like. Whether or nor that forecast has any accuracy or usable skill is another question," he said.
Geiger sticks to his guns, saying the almanac was on target in the 2008 edition when it said the Northeast and the Great Lakes would have a long, cold winter with lots of snow.

Message edited 8/25/2008 10:16:30 AM.

Re: do you believe the farmers almanac?

I don't know that I believe it like it's a crystal ball, but it's amazing how dead on it is sometimes.

Re: do you believe the farmers almanac?

I don't know whether I believe that

Re: do you believe the farmers almanac?

Re: do you believe the farmers almanac?

nope, not a bit.

Re: do you believe the farmers almanac?

i picked my wedding date based on the farmers almanac.

worked out great for me.

but i think i was just lucky

Re: do you believe the farmers almanac?

Re: do you believe the farmers almanac?

no i dont see why they would have any idea what kind of winter we would have

Re: do you believe the farmers almanac?

No, I don't.

Re: do you believe the farmers almanac?

Posted by scarletbegonia

Posted by Cpt2007

I don't know that I believe it like it's a crystal ball, but it's amazing how dead on it is sometimes.

I know - it's kind of eerie....

Re: do you believe the farmers almanac?

I think it is pretty accurate.

I also think that we have been seeing weather extemes and that could include extreme cold, which I hate. I love very season, but winter!