Farmer’s Almanac Predicts Polar Coaster for 2019-2020 Winter Weather in the Tri-State

I wake up at about 5 a.m. and up until very recently, it was light outside when I opened my eyes. Today, it was pitch black. This can mean only one thing: we are on the downswing of summer and cold weather isn't far behind.

This summer has been pretty mild. We had our really hot days but this past week has been less than triple digits which is just fine for the bulk of the population.

So, what's this winter going to be like? Well, I consulted the 2019-2020 Farmer's Almanac. Here's the synopsis:

Winter will have slightly above-normal temperatures and precipitation, on average. The coldest periods will be in early to mid- and late January, early February, mid- to late February, and early March. Snowfall will be above normal in the east and near to below normal elsewhere, with the snowiest periods in late November, early January, and early March. April and May will be warmer than normal, with above-normal rainfall.

It went on to say that much of the US would experience a Polar Coaster. if you are wondering what this new term means... well, this winter will be filled with so many ups and downs on the thermometer, it may remind you of a “Polar Coaster.”

It goes on to say that the biggest drop—with the most freefalling, frigid temperatures—is forecasted to take hold from the northern Plains into the Great Lakes. The Northeast, including the densely populated corridor running from Washington to Boston, will experience colder-than-normal temperatures for much of the upcoming winter. Only the western third of the country will see near-normal winter temperatures, which means fewer shivers for them. Find out how cold it will be where you live!

Ever wonder who gets up at 4 a.m. to gather school closings and distributes them online, via app notifications and on the radio? Well, that's ME. And as the person who does school closings, I can wholeheartedly say that I'm ecstatic we'll be having a mild winter!

And, if you are curious if the Farmer's Almanac is a reliable source, let's look back at the Winter Predictions from the 2018-2019 Farmer’s Almanac. Here’s the synopsis:

• Colder-than-normal conditions are predicted from the Continental Divide east through the Appalachians.
• Above-normal snowfall predicted for Great Lakes, Midwest, New England, Pacific Northwest
• Frigid weather is expected in mid-February, which may also bring blustery and bitter winds, widespread snow showers, especially in zones 1, 2, and 3.
• Winter will hang on with stormy conditions up through the official start of spring, especially for the East Coast.

Hmmm, I don't think we had much snow at all last winter and it didn't really get cold until January. But, it is weather - no one can truly know what it will do!

And, if you want a more in-depth look at what the weather will be like this winter, you can buy the full 2019-2020 Farmer's Almanac right here!