In many ways, it’s hard to take it seriously. The Old Farmer’s Almanac came out not long ago, and with it the weather predictions for the coming winter.
I’m not sure what all goes into the predictions in the Old Farmer’s Almanac. They probably are a bit more scientific than the name might lead you to believe. Like, they’re probably not conducting survey’s of wasp nests to see if they are in trees or in the ground. Or even out measuring the stripes on wooly bear caterpillars. Although checking out the wooly bear’s can be fun, I’m not convinced they know a lot.
But the extended predictions lately have left a bit to be desired. Remember that hot, dry summer of 2023? It didn’t quite turn out that way. It might have started that way, but then it turned into monsoon season. So long range predictions don’t always come true. And the predictions for the coming winter could go one way or another pretty easily.
If you’re in Cape Breton, Newfoundland or Southern Labrador, it says to expect mild and wet weather for the winter. For the rest of Atlantic Canada, they are predicting mild and snowy weather. For most of the rest of the country they are saying to be ready for cold, snowy weather.
Keeping the polar vortex further to the west sounds like a great idea to me, but snowy weather from November on doesn’t sound like a lot of fun. And what exactly does mild and snowy mean? Are we going to get slush? Or will it go a degree or two one way or the other? Because that can make a big difference. That extra degree warmer can mean what was supposed to be snow is actually rain. You know, sort of what we have been getting most winters around here.
It will be interesting to see what we end up with over the coming months. I my mind, the only truly accurate way to find out what sort of weather we will get this winter is to wait until it happens. Long range predictions are tough at the best of times.
But just in case, I may pick up a new snow shovel early in the season. Before they all get sold out.