Farmers’ Almanac: Get Your Heavy Duty Long Johns Ready For Winter

26 Aug, 2013 by William Teach

Print this article Font size -16+

They’re predicting a really cold winter, and, let’s face it, their predictions tend to be quite a bit better than the computer models of Warmists. They also put themselves out there by predicting what’s coming shortly, versus the Warmists that predict 50, 100, 1000 years out (BTW, how’s that “ice free Arctic in 2013” working out?)

(CBS News) The Farmers’ Almanac is using words like “piercing cold,” “bitterly cold” and “biting cold” to describe the upcoming winter. And if its predictions are right, the first outdoor Super Bowl in years will be a messy “Storm Bowl.”

The 197-year-old publication that hits newsstands Monday predicts a winter storm will hit the Northeast around the time the Super Bowl is played at MetLife Stadium in the Meadowlands in New Jersey. It also predicts a colder-than-normal winter for two-thirds of the country and heavy snowfall in the Midwest, Great Lakes and New England.

“We’re using a very strong four-letter word to describe this winter, which is C-O-L-D. It’s going to be very cold,” said Sandi Duncan, managing editor.

Well, considering that the past 4 out of 5 winters around much of the world in both hemispheres have been cold and snowy, it’s not much of a stretch. I’m sure Warmists will find a way to Blame Mankind, particularly the use of fossil fuels, if it is a very cold winter. They’ve already figured a way to say that cold and snow is due to too many greenhouse gases, and are working on their “the heat is doing a Where’s Waldo? in the deep oceans” meme.

Based on planetary positions, sunspots and lunar cycles, the almanac’s secret formula is largely unchanged since founder David Young published the first almanac in 1818.

Modern scientists don’t put much stock in sunspots or tidal action, but the almanac says its forecasts used by readers to plan weddings and plant gardens are correct about 80 percent of the time.

Right there is the problem: most of the Warmist scientists tend to discount so many natural factors, including the main driver of weather (which creates climate), the Sun. Instead, they look into crystal balls and simply make it up as they go. Usually in hindsight.

What’s the possibility that the Farmers’ Almanac is right? Their more specific predictions, particularly for short periods of time and for storms, is around 50-50, and, yeah, they often hedge their bets. Long term, they tend to be a lot more right. I guess we’ll see. I’ve set a calendar even for December 26 for a follow up.

Crossed at Pirate’s Cove. Follow me on Twitter @WilliamTeach.