"Farmers' Almanac" predicts a "bitterly cold" winter

[cgymike]

^your area always gets horrible winters anyway so you may notice no difference?

 

[gsdx]

I forget the details -- but BASICALLY it boiled down to him paying SPECIFIC attention to the LITTLE things in nature -- you know, the stuff that none of us notice...

That's how the 'old timers' used to forecast the weather before there were meteorologists and The Weather Network. The forecasts were rather short (only a day or so), but, between watching the plants and animals and the skies, their forecasts were usually quite reliable. After all, their lives often relied upon them.

 

[bort138]

 

[star-warrior]

We had a rather bitterly cold winter at times reaching minus 18 celcius, and prolonged cold spring. This delayed the warm spring weather, and caused the apple tree next door to us have a late blossoming. Its gonna have a bumper crop this year too because the delayed warm weather meant there was a need for the tree to fruit in a shorter period of time before the autumn and winter arrives.

On the ground, our beans have done spectacularly well. The first fly in the house didn't happen until mid june, and the numbers of aphids have been down so the veggies have done well too.

Bitterly cold winter sometimes gives rise to a bumper harvest of fruits, so there is a silver lining there somewhere.

 

[birddog7]

I have little confidence in almanacs. However, IF the weather pattern we've had since late winter, through spring, and so far this summer, rermains for the upcoming winter, we stand a good chance for a bitter cold, and snowy winter. This will be for Central to Eastern Canada. The U.S. East of the Mississippi, and for Western Europe.

 

[Just_Believe18]

We've had a very mild summer here and it's already began to rain again. I agree that this year's winter will be bitterly cold and snowy.

 

[72-Jay]

I don't mind snow If we get a bit more then fine
I hate cold - especially single digits (or worse - below zero (F)) that crap sucks...bring on the (so-called) global warming LOL

I'm seeing plenty of little signs of fall around, its plenty warm, but the trees know....

 

[AstareGod]

It's still fucking hot in the South - not as hot as it was earlier this month, but still hot. This is usually when hurricane season ramps up. Katrina hit here almost exactly eight years ago.

And for your enjoyment:

 

[SaskGuy]

Just as long as it stays cold enough so that it doesn't snow, and it stays below 0, I'm happy.
Sure, some people might enjoy a few warmer days in the winter, but if the snow melts and then freezes again, the streets turn into a skating rink. Conditions like that are potentially fatal, and I'm very happy to be driving an old, rock solid car in case I get into any accidents this year. I feel much safer in something that's built to take a real beating.

 

[Alnitak]

Just as long as it stays cold enough so that it doesn't snow, and it stays below 0, I'm happy.
Sure, some people might enjoy a few warmer days in the winter, but if the snow melts and then freezes again, the streets turn into a skating rink. Conditions like that are potentially fatal, and I'm very happy to be driving an old, rock solid car in case I get into any accidents this year. I feel much safer in something that's built to take a real beating.

Do you have to cuddle your battery

 

[Alnitak]

Do almanacs make regional predictions, or are they one-forecast-fits-all?

At any rate, I like cold and enjoyed Alaska when I lived there in 2007-2009. Bring it on.

They are regional.

Tell me your general location and Ill let you know what the almanac says.

 

[Alnitak]

This has been the mildest Summer I can ever remember. It just hasn't been hot here at all. It's been like Springtime all Summer and it's actually cooling down at night and in the mornings already. Everyone has been saying that we're probably going to have a colder Winter than we're used to . I hate the cold, dreary Winter days. I need the sun on my skin.

Robert Frost is a good cure for dreariness.

 

[ravenstar]

It's been a fairly mild winter in Australia. I saw a report the other day that's suggesting we're going to move from Winter almost straight into Summer. Last summer was the pits, record highs everywhere. My shoes melted one day, at least the corner of the heel did. Apparently it's going to look like Winter in Comparison

 

[Alnitak]

It's been a fairly mild winter in Australia. I saw a report the other day that's suggesting we're going to move from Winter almost straight into Summer. Last summer was the pits, record highs everywhere. My shoes melted one day, at least the corner of the heel did. Apparently it's going to look like Winter in Comparison

Australia, Australia, Australia... don't see it in the Farmer's Almanac, must not exist

 

[ravenstar]

Probably not. I live in the land about to be renamed "1950 Only Australia" frightening place lately.

 

[Alnitak]

The poet? Any specific work that you might recommend?

Reluctance

http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/238118

It's the poem at the end of a long journey "A Boy's Will"

 

[Alnitak]

This will SUCK for the Superbowl! That actually IS my first thought. The first year it's not in a tropical climate... it needs to at least be bearable in New York or I'll be pissed.

Flip a coin, it could be nice or bitter cold and have two feet of snow on the ground.

January has been known to be so warm in the NJ on occasion that the cherry trees blossom.

 

[kevbo]

Bit of a snow pig myself, can't wait for the cold!

 

[gsdx]

One thing that people tend to forget is that 'bitter cold' does not equal 'snow'. It can, in fact, be too cold to snow. That's why Antarctica is a desert.