Call it a sign of the times with record setting temperatures expected in the UK and Europe this winter, now the 2020 edition of The Old Farmer’s Almanac warns Americans to expect a “bone-chilling”, super snowy, extra long winter this year.
The bottom line: “There’ll be s’no escape from shivers, snowflakes, and slush: ‘Snowy, icy, and icky’ conditions, ‘wet and wild’ periods’, and ‘a parade of snowstorms’ will transform the landscape.
“This winter will be remembered for big chills and strong storms bringing a steady foofbeat of heavy rain and sleet, not to mention piles of snow,” says Janice Stillman, Editor of the publication, which “was 80.5 percent accurate in predicting last winter’s wild weather”.
It is “calling for frequent snow events—from flurries to no fewer than seven big snowstorms, including two in April for the Intermountain region west of the Rockies”.
“This snow-verload will include storms pummeling Washington state and points eastward across the northern-tier states into Michigan. For the Northwest, this could mean a repeat of last winter’s Snowpocalypse that dumped 20.2 inches on Seattle in February.”
The report continued: “The middle of the country and New England can bank on a slush fund, as ‘more wet than white’ conditions will leave sludgy messes that freeze during the overnights. Meanwhile, much of the Deep South will be saturated by soakers.
“As winter rages, the tip of the nice-berg will be Florida, the Gulf Coast, and Texas, which will bask in pleasant weather.
“Bone-chilling cold could make some snow-socked areas even more un-brrr-able. Prepare to shiver from the Heartland westward to the Pacific Coast starting just after New Year’s.
“The cold will continue through Valentine’s Day—providing the perfect excuse to stay indoors and snuggle!—but be warned:
Winter will not be over yet!
“Potential escapees should take note that during the heart of winter, even typically tropical Hawaii will feel the chill, with cooler temperatures coupled with showers and heavy thunderstorms.”
For residents across the United States, the report says it will feel like a “never-ending winter”.
There will be “no fewer than seven big snowstorms from coast to coast”, the report added.
“For some parts of the country, frigid and frosty conditions will last well into spring, bringing little relief to the winter-weary.”
According to the editor: “This could feel like the never-ending winter, particularly in the Midwest and east to the Ohio Valley and Appalachians, where wintery weather will last well into March and even through the first days of spring.”
Temperatures are expected to warm up in Alaska and the eastern two-thirds of the Lower 48, “as winter melts into spring”.
But the report said the weather will go from one extreme to the other next summer.
“A searing summer will bring ‘scorching’ temperatures to the High Plains; ;sizzle and drizzle; from the middle of the country eastward to the coast; and ‘wicked hot’ weather to the Northeast.”
As for the upcoming festive season: “Many parts of the country will enjoy a white Christmas and a white Thanksgiving this year… and the snowstorms won’t stop until mid-April, the Almanac forebodes.”
It was also noted that: “The Old Farmer’s Almanac’s forecasts have long been criticized by meteorologists, who say the publications’s methods are unscientific, but the Almanac claims their long-term weather forecasts are accurate 80% of the time, according to their retroactive analysis each year.
“The Old Farmer’s Almanac’s predictions are based on a ‘top-secret formula’ devised by its founder Robert B Thomas in 1792.”
On that note, the publication stated: “We employ three scientific disciplines to make our long-range predictions: solar science, the study of sunspots and other solar activity; climatology, the study of prevailing weather patterns; and meteorology, the study of the atmosphere.”
The Almanac’s website also “offers tips on how to predict weather using items commonly found on a farm, like persimmon seeds, a pig spleen and wooly bear caterpillars.”
