Good news on the global warming front

Farmers' Almanac predicts numbing cold this winter

The almanac, which has been published since 1818, issues annual forecasts using a formula based on sunspots, planetary positions and the effects of the moon.

This winter, the 200-page publication says it'll be cool and snowy in the Northeast, bitterly cold and dry in the Great Lakes states, and cold and snowy across the North Central states.

It says the Northwest will be cool with average precipitation, the Southwest will be mild and dry, the South Central states will be cold and wet, and the Southeast will be mild and dry.

Sunspots? What are they? We've had an incredibly peaceful and inactive Sol for over two years now according to this. (And it seems we had a spotless August 31 as well.) You don't mean to tell me that a bunch of guys have figured out that it is the SUN that drives our weather and climate. Do tell!

Of course the government disagrees:

The almanac's forecast, however, is at odds with the National Weather Service, which is calling for warmer-than-normal temperatures across much of the country because of an El Nino system in the tropical Pacific Ocean, said Mike Halpert, deputy director of the NOAA Climate Prediction Center in Camp Springs, Md.

"The stronger El Nino becomes, the more confident and the more likely it will be the northern part of the country will have a milder-than-average winter," Halpert said.

The problem with Mr. Halpert's statement is that this is a weak El Nino and is expected to break up before the new year is well under way.


I usually go with The Old Farmer's Almanac as opposed to The Farmer's Almanac sited here. Although I will usually buy both to, you know, "compare and contrast" as they say in the essay questions. Weather is so seldom a "True" or "False" proposition.

As for the Old Farmer's Almanac's accuracy...well, let's just say it's entertaining. They weren't terribly accurate with last year's forecast for warmer weather or anything. But a copy of the OFA always rests in the most important room in the house. You know, the one every one spends some time sitting in with nothing much to do but peruse a magazine or some book with short articles/stories.