This winter is going to be a “Wet, Winter Whirlwind,” according to the “Farmers’ Almanac.”
The extended winter forecast calls for “flaky” and “cold” conditions.
La Nina, which refers to the periodic cooling of ocean surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific, is expected to develop and hang on through the season. The astronomical start of winter begins with the winter solstice Dec. 21.
The “Farmers’ Almanac” has been making weather predictions since 1818 and its founding editor had come up with some correlations between celestial events and various meteorological conditions.
“Over the years, we’ve fine-tuned our formula somewhat. We’ve changed some of it, but we still look at many of those factors and we come up with a forecast,” says Editor Sandi Duncan.
“Recently, we’ve also taken into consideration the changes in the environment, as well as when we’re putting our forecast together when we see something develop such as La Nina for this winter, we try to look at that and what it might do to the winter forecast ahead,” explains Duncan.
In your neck of the woods, Duncan adds, it will be the coldest area of Canada for the winter. “But we don’t see anything too cold. Overall, I think it’s going to be an average winter with storms coming through in February with accumulations up to 30 centimetres or more.”
Duncan says to expect a cold and stormy winter, especially in February.
As for the “Farmers’ Almanac,” people seem to appreciate it and still use the annual forecast, notes Duncan. “Because they want to plan ahead. A lot of people really do like snow. They don’t like to shovel it, but they like to go out and play in it or ski in it.”
“We’re still a good resource for a lot of people who want to plan ahead, whether they want to plan their vacation in the snow or go south.”
According to Duncan, the compilation also includes life hacks, such as the best days to garden and to go fishing.
Visit farmersalmanac.com/canadian-extended-forecast for a detailed forecast for the southern Alberta region.
