Dramatic winter expected for Northeast:

[Earth_First]

A 'wild and dramatic winter' is expected according to the AP story on the Farmer's Alamanac Winter 2004/2005 forcast...

VISION OF WILD WINTER

LEWISTON, Maine - Gas up the snowblower but do not put away your umbrella: The Farmers' Almanac is predicting a wild winter with heavy precipitation and dramatic temperature swings in the Northeast.

This coming winter will get off to a cold start in the Pacific Northwest and northern Plains, the almanac says. Milder weather is in store for southern half of the nation, with near normal or balmy temperatures from California to the Deep South, according to the book.

The northern Plains and Great Lakes will be snowy, the almanac says, while it will be milder in the southern half of the country. The Northeast will have unusually wet weather -- either as rain or snow, according to the almanac.

``The big thing is it's going to be a winter of extremes,'' said Managing Editor Sandi Duncan, whose almanac hits newsstands Tuesday.

The weather formula used by the 188-year-old Farmers' Almanac is a closely guarded secret. Prepared two years in advance, the forecasts are based on sunspots, the position of the planets and tidal action of the moon.

The National Weather Service questions the accuracy of forecasts made so far in advance, but the almanac says it is right 80 percent of the time. Some people use it for planning weddings and other outdoor events.

The almanac's forecast last winter was largely on the mark. It predicted a cold winter, and nature delivered a January deep freeze in the Northeast.

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/world/9534113.htm

Right ON! This will be my first season back on the two planks since my ankle injury in 2002. Any NE'ers looking at the "All For One" pass?

LET IT SNOW!

[Rockholm]

1. It's Gonna Be A Bad One, For Sure!

The acorns are already dropping, a sure sign of a bad winter!

[Media_Lies_Daily]

4. Some leaves have also been turning down here in northern Alabama....

...could be an interesting Fall and Winter.

[Earth_First]

5. This has also been observed here in Central, New York

in the Naples Valley

[bamademo]

11. I've noticed that also../

...and predicted a cold winter. I live on Monte Sano in Huntsville and the leaves are starting to change and drop off. The squirrels are really fighting over nuts and so are the chipmonks. I take pity on them and throw out sunflower seeds. :-) Please no ice storms.

[ramapo]

9. Squirrels have been very busy....

Tossing acorns out of the trees. Been going on almost two weeks here in North Jersey. Seemed a bit early to me.

[Bluebear]

2. Hello, Tom Ridge says I must report you, you used an almanac

Keep your hands up, are there any sharp objects in your pocket I need to know about?

[Earth_First]

3. BUSTED!

Black. Vans. Approaching. Must. Flee. Residence.

[IrateCitizen]

6. Two planks are for SUCKAS!

Knuckle-dragging is the only way to go. I scoff at all two-plankers who come in my path. :evilgrin:

[Earth_First]

7. We'll have to cross paths this season at Alta or MRG...

oh wait,

:headbang:

[ewagner]

8. Colors changing

in Central Wisconsin too.

Not a good sign...maybe three weeks to a month early.

Frost reported last week.

[Nadienne]

13. Colors seem to be starting to change

in NW Iowa, too. I don't know if there have been reports of frost so far...

A little over a week ago, I was camping just north of the NE Minnesota/Ontario border... I hear temperatures got down to 25 degrees one night. Which I suppose is not unheard of for mid-to-late August.

It seems as though locusts (or whatever they are; I know their sound, but I'm not sure of their name) started their summer's ending "song" quite a bit early, too, though come to think of it, I haven't heard any more lately...

[knitter4democracy]

17. Here in SW Michigan too

Our colors have been changing for at least a week already. I've not seen more squirrels in ages. Last year, the squirrels went nuts for nuts (acting totally crazy), and we got serious snow. This year, they're acting the same way. Hmmmm . . .

I hope that almanac is right. They usually are . . .

[jpak]

10. My bunions are a throbbin'

and the Woolly Bears are a crawlin'

with thick black stripes.

We won't dig out 'til Memorial Day.

Sartin!

Ayuh...

:)

[AspenRose]

12. Is it true that if the yellowjackets fly low to the ground...

then it's going to be a cold winter?

[GiovanniC]

14. Hmmm....

"The northern Plains and Great Lakes will be snowy, the almanac says, while it will be milder in the southern half of the country."

Duh?

[Nadienne]

16. This winter, NW Iowa was not snowy, to my recollection.

Or rather, winter seemed to save all our snow for February and March.

[GiovanniC]

18. Michigan Always Is

Which is Great Lakes... and the south is always pretty mild.

[Nadienne]

15. Hope this doesn't mean I get gyped out of a long, enjoyable

autumn.

Snow is fun, but only after I'm thoroughly sick of the smell of burning leaves. :)

[krkaufman]

19. Can you say....?

Abrupt Climate Change