Consulting the Farmer’s Almanac This Season

After the long winter last year, I am almost afraid to ask what lies ahead with regard to weather.

Last March, we took a jaunt to Florida to break up the winter blahs and to confirm that Mr. Sunshine was still working correctly.  When returning home as the plane was landing, lo and behold, the first clear vision in the night as we approached the runway, was a ton of snow on the ground!  What a terrible feeling that was.

We hadn’t even taken our coats.  I mean after all, we were confident that when we returned, somehow Mr. Sunshine would hop the plane with us.  No such luck.  We had to pull our luggage through the 8-degree, heavy-winded weather and old crunched up piles of snow.   That was a pretty icy welcoming on top of our fresh, well-earned suntans.

Several times a week, I walk with my neighbor and she has referred to the Farmer’s Almanac on numerous occasions.  She mentioned it was supposed to start snowing in October and not quit until April. I did not like hearing that. Fortunately, we are in the middle of an Indian Summer with highs in the 70s.

I understand that the Old Farmer’s Almanac is predicting extremely cold temperatures again with a lot of snow.  Although, the way I read it, it really doesn’t get serious for our area until at least December, rather than now, which is worthy of a sigh of relief.

How does the Almanac know? The Almanac uses solar cycles and other scientific studies gathered over a 30-year period in compiling its data in order to make its prediction and it is generally found to have an accurate reputation.

The Farmer’s Almanac caught my attention when I saw that the targeted timeframe for winter storms are the second week of January and the second week of February for possible heavy winter weather with a long, drawn out spell of stormy weather extending through much of the first half of March.  What?  Does that mean it continues for weeks?  Oh, I am not liking this.  It’s deja vu!

By the time February rolls around, I am ready for change, so that seems like the logical time to plan a trip to someplace warm.  Otherwise, you may not see too much of me until you hear the birds chirping for the arrival of spring. That’s right.  I am already planning in advance and bracing for the bite of Jack Frost.  Although I will make the best of it, I can already feel my bones tensing up with just the thought of it.

Hope you all stay warm!