Before you know it, people will be running around frantically looking for bread and milk. We all want to know what to expect for the 2024-25 winter season, and the Farmers' Almanac recently released their forecast.
It's titled "Wet, Winter, Whirlwind," which has me shaking my head and rolling my eyes already. I know a lot of people are big fans of their product, but I want to bring something to your attention. Take a look at the map below...
Image: Farmers' Almanac
Pay close attention to the colored zones along with the wording for each one. Now, inspect the Farmers' Almanac forecast for the 2023-24 winter season. Do you notice any glaring similarities? The map is exactly the same aside from slight changes in the wording! Last year, they called for "Cold, Stormy" conditions, and this year the outlook is "Cold, Wet, & White" for our area.
Image Credit: Farmers' Almanac
To make it even worse, it's not just the last 2 years in a row now that they have literally just changed the text on the exact same shading for every area in the country, but it goes back further than that!! Look at these next two maps from 2 & 3 years ago...
Image Credit: Farmers' Almanac
Image Credit: Farmers' Almanac
If only changing the text on top of the same shading year in and year out isn't enough for you, then let's look back at last year's Winter and see if it would stand up to the "Cold, stormy" they predicted for us.
First, let's check the "cold" part of that prediction:
- Average December temperature(highs & lows): 39.6°
- Actual December temperature: 45.1°
- Average January temperature(highs & lows): 35.7°
- Actual January temperature: 34.7°
- Average February temperature(highs & lows): 39.5°
- Actual February temperature: 47.3°
Hmm...okay well let's check precipitation from last Winter, surely that'll back the "stormy" prediction like they said, right?
- Average December Precipitation: 4.13" (2.2" snow)
- Actual December Precipitation: 1.86" (0.1" snow)
- Average January Precipitation: 3.39" (4.5" snow)
- Actual January Precipitation: 6.53" (4.2" snow)
- Average February Precipitation: 3.41" (4.1" snow)
- Actual February Precipitation: 1.63" (0.4" snow)
So other than January, Winter in Louisville ended up below normal for precipitation and all the months of Winter ended up below normal for snowfall.
While it is all in good fun, it is interesting to look back at previous Famers' Almanac "Outlooks" to see how they've stood up. We usually issue our WDRB Winter Outlook sometime in November. Be on the lookout!
More Weather Stories:
