USA
Farmers Almanac
As homeowners across the country pray for a mild winter to offset rising
energy costs,
the world-famous Farmers’ Almanac is warning us to prepare for the
worst. “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. Only the Far West
and Southeast will see near-normal temperatures. Few, if any, locations
will enjoy many above-normal temperature days this upcoming season.
Snow?
Precipitation-wise,
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.
Above-normal
precipitation is forecast for the Southwest during December 2008 and
for the Southeast in January and February 2009. It should also turn out
to be an unusually wet and/or snowy February across the Northeast and
Mid-Atlantic.
In contrast, for the Pacific Northwest, where
wet weather is usually the rule during the winter, February could
actually turn out to be a bit drier than normal.
Canada
Farmers Almanac Canada
As homeowners across the country pray for a mild winter to offset rising
energy costs, the world-famous
Canadian Farmers’ Almanac
is warning us to prepare for the worst. “Numb’s the word!” is how the
192-year-old publication is predicting the upcoming winter season.
For 2008–2009, the
Canadian Farmers’ Almanac is forecasting a “numbing” winter, during which temperatures will average below normal for much of the country.
For
most of Alberta , Saskatchewan, Manitoba and westernmost Ontario,
temperatures will average much below seasonal norms. The coldest
temperatures can be expected during January and February. In some
cases, minus 40 degrees Celsius, or even minus 45 degrees Celsius, may
not be out of the question.
It will also be unusually cold
during the month of January in Quebec and in the Maritimes. Only
British Columbia will see near-normal temperatures through the winter.
Precipitation-wise, the region around the
Great Lakes
could receive above-normal amounts, while the rest of the nation will
have averages close to normal. An unusually wet and/or snowy February
forQuebec and the Maritimes is also in the forecast.
In
contrast, in British Columbia, where wet weather is usual during the
winter, February could actually turn out to be a bit drier than normal.
