Folksy Winter Forecasting

Written By: Brian Neudorff

I have been active with my own weather blog for many years, and every year during the month of August the demand begins to increase for the winter weather forecast for the upcoming winter season. Now that the days are shorter and the temperatures are getting colder the demand is beginning to peek.

The National Weather Service doesn't issue their official winter forecast until sometime in mid October, but the Farmers' Almanac and the Old Farmer's Almanac have already released their forecasts. Yes there are two known Almanacs and from what I have found many people get them confused from time to time.

To be honest, I don't put a lot of faith into these forecasts, but people seem to love them and they can be interesting to read so I decided that I would share with you their thoughts on the winter of 2008-2009.

(**NOTE: The Forecast below is NOT that of the StormWatch 8 weather department**)

The first one I am going to look at is the Farmers' Almanac. Their forecast is shown in the image above. “Numb’s the word!” is how the 192-year-old publication is predicting the upcoming winter season.

For 2008–2009, the Farmers' Almanac is forecasting a “numbing” winter, with below-average temperatures for at least two-thirds of the country. They also forecast few, if any, locations will enjoy many above-normal temperature days this upcoming season.

As far as snow, the Farmers' Almanac is forecasting:

"most of the South, as well as the Midwest, should experience above-normal conditions, while the rest of the nation will average close to normal. With below-normal winter temperatures and an above-normal precipitation forecast, the Great Lakes and Midwest will see above-normal snowfalls, especially during January and February."

In the Old Farmer's Almanac, they are expecting temperatures in the lower Great Lakes to "seesaw from January through March," as precipitation is expected to be generally below average for the lakes with the exception of above average snowfall around Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.

The coldest periods will occur in December, early and mid-January, and in early and mid-February. The snowiest periods will be in early and mid-December, early to mid-January, early February, and early March.

Please keep in mind this is not the StormWatch 8 Winter weather forecast, this is just information we are passing along to you. We will be releasing our official winter forecast in November in our Winter Weather Special. You will want to stay tuned to News8 and FOX Rochester for information.