Truth be told, we love the Farmer’s Almanac in part because it knows how to turn a phrase — but given their forecast for winter this year, our affection is downright emphatic. “More Shivery and Shovelry” proclaims the lead headline, with other geo-specific morsels like “stinging snowfall” and “wintery white and wet.” Yes, this venerable annual release — in print since 1818 — predicts that this winter will be a doozy, with below-normal temps forecasted for three-quarters of the U.S. The coldest spells (known as “red flag” periods) are slated to hit at the end of January ’15, specifically in the Northern Plains and the Great Lakes region. Only parts of the western and eastern coasts will see glimmers of near-normal temps. With those cold temps also comes a good amount of snow along with above-average precipitation in the central and southern plains. The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (also known as NOAA, a comparatively more modern — and arguably more scientific — forecasting agency) has also officially declared the coming winter as an El Niño year. This designation refers to a climatic event where the central Pacific is warmed as a result of conditions in the tropics, which in turn impact global temperatures. This may mean more moisture for California and the southern states — and hopefully a bigger burst of snow across the entire country. But as eager skiers and snowboarders will attest, there’s no sure-fire guarantee to weather predictions. Falling in love with snow is easiest way to get your heart broken. But when all the elements align, it produces only the most divine emotions. Until then, we say get your kit ready, and do a few snow dances just in case.
Posted on: Fri, 26 Dec 2014 16:40:30 +0000
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