Posted on 08/20/2008 9:49:08 PM PDT by lainie
Households worried about the high cost of keeping warm this winter will draw little comfort from the Farmers' Almanac, which predicts below-average temperatures for most of the U.S.
"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, 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, noting that the frigid forecast combined with high prices for heating fuel is sure to compound problems households will face in keeping warm.
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 should be getting an unusually wet or snowy February, the almanac said.
The forecasts, which are spelled out in three- and four-day periods for each region, are prepared by the almanac's reclusive prognosticator Caleb Weatherbee, who uses a secret formula based on sunspots, the position of the planets and the tidal action of the moon.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.mainetoday.com ...
Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight...caught that when I read it. My wife laughed so hard I thought she was going to choke.
The Farmers Almanac is based on astrology. But it does make good kindling.
Winter sucks!!!
And here I am in a house with only one room insulated, and an electrical system to old to run a friggin' space heater...
My daddy and grandpa always used to check the amount of hair on the horses beginning in August and depending on what they found, they knew how much wood to cut for the winter and mom and grandma knew how many quilts they had to have ready by October.
Early leaf drop is another sign I’ve noticed... My alders and maples are already starting to defoliate. Gonna be a cold one!
I’ve seen bazillions this year.
Heavily fuzzed!
ping
Published since 1792. Shouldn't that be "217-year-old publication?"
A friend in Maine recently reported that honeybees and bumblebees there have taken to building their nests in the ground this summer instead of in trees. She said this an indicator of a severe winter, and one she hasn’t seen in many years.
A relatively recent study of one decades worth of Farmers' Almanac weather predictions proved that they are nowhere near 80-85% correct and in fact were no more accurate than simply guessing.
I was a bit bummed when reading it actually since I really liked the idea that they were so accurate.
I’m here in the Neborg (Nebraska for those in Rio Linda)and I’ve been saying fall is here for two weeks. I’ve already shut my A/C off for the year. In 13 years I’ve never been able to do that in AUGUST! According to a local farmer (in his late 60’s) the first snow will fall in the Omaha metro area October 27. Last year this guy was only a week off in his first snow prediction. I didn’t know him before then so I don’t know how accurate he’s been...
Do you remember the source. Could have been an AGW “ringer”. I say that as the 80-85% accuracy figure for the Farmer’s Almanac’s predictions has been around for as long as I can remember.
With so much disinformation ‘tacti’ being deployed across the MSM, the Internet etc. by mischievous Leftists in support of their agenda, it would be interesting to know the source that is shoveling against the tide.
I keep sayin...Think Omaha! I’ve got heat and with all you here the house will be toasty all winter! :)
LOL...Gus predicts you will buy some PA Lottery tix, hopefully win big, and move someplace warm.
Gus is the second most famous groundhog in Pennsylvania....behind that attention ‘’hog’’ Phil.
We had little snow last year. We love winter and snow. We thought that it just might be a colder winter on the way, saw birds flocking up, all the wild apple trees are loaded with apples, lot of acorns also this year.
Remember the other day we were commenting about the crickets being here early? HMMMMMM.
"Therefore, go ye forth and vote for Obama. He can part the sea and change the changes in the weather. He will lower oil prices and transform water into Two Buck Chuck. We know you will agree this forecast is very professional....and above all, timely."
Leni
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