Farmer's Almanac forecasts

[BackyardFarm]

Just how accurate are these long range forecasts?

I've read the Harris and the Old Farmer's so far. Just wondering if I should be planning on the cool, wet summer they're promising me for 2016.

[Lorri D]

I sneak peeks while standing in a line at the store. They still have some for this year 2015 and I would have to say that it is accurate, but so vague and general that it is hard to be wrong too. I am impressed by some of the scientific approaches that they use like sun spots etc.... science is starting to link sun spots or the lack of sun spots along with the whole solar cycle (minimum's vs maximum's) with the climate, jet stream along with other things.

I don't pay attention to the seed setting though. The dates that they gave for me for two years now were during a mucky, cold, and rainy period. Then it would have been another 2 weeks before it was a "good time" again. So, I ignored it. I really wanted to try it, but I'm not going to be beholden to it.

[Gardeneer]

I don't believe in it .
And I don't believe if tooth fairy either and Santa clause either.

[carolyn137]

Being a farmer's daughter and thus living by weather I go to many different weather sites each day and not only am I reading about the biggest el nino and possible effects of that across the country in terms of this winter's weather but also going into next year.

And yes, also predictions from the original Farmer's Almanac, for there are two of them.

Worst winter ever coming up for those of us in the NE, temps not that bad but snow depths beyond imagining.

Do I belive everything I read online? Of course not, so I have no comment about the accuracy of ANY predictions.

BUT, there is some scientific basis for the following, which I heard my father say from time to time about impending weather.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_sky_at_morning

Carolyn

[imp]

Originally Posted by Gardeneer

I don't believe in it .
And I don't believe if tooth fairy either and Santa clause either.

Am to a Tooth Fairy!

Side story- I am allergic to Novocain, lidocain and xylacain, so have to be put under for dental work ( think lots more $$).

While I was recovering after some major work, I was told I asked the surgeon for the teeth.

He wanted to know why I would want them, and I was told that I said those teeth are worth a LOT of money from the Tooth Fairy!

I was told all that, since I didn't recall it, but I did get a nice gift certificate from the Tooth Fairy under my pillow a few nights later even though the doc didn't give back my teeth.!

So, there IS a Tooth Fairy, and I guess he doesn't carry cash anymore, and he looks like The Rock- just shrunk down a whole lot.

(Next you're gonna say there's no Easter Bunny, neither.)

Originally Posted by carolyn137

Being a farmer's daughter and thus living by weather I go to many different weather sites each day and not only am I reading about the biggest el nino and possible effects of that across the country in terms of this winter's weather but also going into next year.

And yes, also predictions from the original Farmer's Almanac, for there are two of them.

Worst winter ever coming up for those of us in the NE, temps not that bad but snow depths beyond imagining.

Do I belive everything I read online? Of course not, so I have no comment about the accuracy of ANY predictions.

BUT, there is some scientific basis for the following, which I heard my father say from time to time about impending weather.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_sky_at_morning

Carolyn

I don't buy into any one forecast, especially for long range, but like Carolyn, look at many places. Then I do the pick-and-choose thing for my best bet.

[Deborah]

I just watch the local news for weather. However, every single time they say it's going to rain and I say it isn't, I was right. Strange, huh?

[Starlight]

I check out the Farmers Almanac every year. I have found that it is pretty close for our area. I too use it for weather and not for seed sowing.

Sometimes that Almanac is more accurate than all the weatherperson on 3 tv channels.

Star who has waited all day for the 60% chance of rain that was due here early this afternoon that has not arrived and now has to go water. Bummer. Sketter city here I come.

[Gardeneer]

These days , they use X % chance of rain. Rarely the say 100%. So even they say 90% chance of rain and you don't get a drop, their @$$ is covered. hehe

[Starlight]

Originally Posted by Gardeneer

These days , they use X % chance of rain. Rarely the say 100%. So even they say 90% chance of rain and you don't get a drop, their @$$ is covered. hehe

Besides reading the weather forecasts I like to read alot of the other information in the Almanac. Sometimes they have some really good gardening advice and other interesting subjects.

[bower]

The meteorologists are starting to have a better handle on long term forecasting - where long term is in the range of a couple of months, nothing like a whole year though.

El Nino, La Nina, makes a big difference, also they're looking at big picture and including MJO (Madden-Julian oscillation) and Arctic oscillation.... there's also some method involving early fall snowpack in Siberia that has been a relatively accurate predictor of winter conditions in North America the past couple of years....

I think it's a little bit early to forecast the winter yet... At least, not ready to hear about it.

[Starlight]

Originally Posted by bower

The meteorologists are starting to have a better handle on long term forecasting - where long term is in the range of a couple of months, nothing like a whole year though.

El Nino, La Nina, makes a big difference, also they're looking at big picture and including MJO (Madden-Julian oscillation) and Arctic oscillation.... there's also some method involving early fall snowpack in Siberia that has been a relatively accurate predictor of winter conditions in North America the past couple of years....

I think it's a little bit early to forecast the winter yet... At least, not ready to hear about it.

I'm ready for fall and cooler temps, but not winter. The trees don't lie though. Each day I watch more and more of the fall colors starting to come on and the squirrels are building and re-enforcing their nests.

Darn stinkers have even resorted to taking pieces of my cheesecloth netting and chewing loose tomato strings up into the trees for their nests.

[Father'sDaughter]

Here the squirrels are a couple of weeks behind schedule in their annual acorn feast, but that could be simply because the acorns might have been behind schedule.

As to predictions -- the Farmer's Almanac is predicting snowier conditions for the northeast while the Old Farmer's Almanac says we'll see below normal snowfall. ????

Unfortunately they both agree it will be a frigid winter up here.

[Catherine+twin]

Well, I have fought through 2-3 feet of snow to get to my back yard chickens, although not in about 7-8 years now. This year we are already hearing the we may have deep snow because of the el Nino pattern, so I am puting the spare coop (my aunt bought a really styling chicken house and then didn't get chicks) under the back porch roof, just in case. First time the forcast is for more than 2 inches, Peck and Run are coming in from the north 40!

I also plan on digging some more swales in my hill-side garden to catch snow melt. How's that for optimistic? No, really, some of us try to keep the moisture in our gardens rather than try to drain the wet soil. Flooding is NOT a problem on my arid mountain side.

Catherine