Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions

LEWISTON, Maine – Good news, winter haters: After record snowfall in the mid-Atlantic and unusually cold weather down South, the Farmers' Almanac is predicting a "kinder and gentler" winter.

After eyeing the skies, tidal action and sunspots, the folks at the 194-year-old publication say in their 2011 edition going on sale Monday that it'll be cold but nothing like last winter, when 49 states saw snow and it got so cold in Florida that iguanas fell out of trees.

"Overall, it looks like it's going to be a kinder and gentler winter, especially in the areas that had a rough winter last year," said managing editor Sandi Duncan.

But don't put away your hat and gloves just yet.

It'll still be colder than normal for much of the country, the almanac says, and New England will get a "cold slap in the face" after missing last winter's misery. Finally, residents of the upper Midwest and Great Lakes are expected to get the piles of snow that'll be lacking elsewhere.

The Farmers' Almanac, which claims 80 to 85 percent accuracy and says it correctly forecast heavy snow in Middle Atlantic states last winter, bases its predictions on a secret mathematical formula using the position of the planets, tidal action of the moon and sunspots.

I like the sound of this forecast - bring on the snow!

Sounds good, bring on the snow 2010-2011  ! 

Last year snowfall in the Chicago area was disappointing.  We were constantly bombarded with winter storm watches and warnings that never materialized or dwindled down to a mild 2-3" snowfall or just cold wet rain and freeze over.  Everyone keep leaving early for work before the big one comes.  :)

I believe Farmer's Almanac will be right this year.  Last year, we had very little snow in the Toronto, Ontario, Canada area where I am.  We kept missing all those snowstorms that hammered the eastern U.S.  This spring and summer has been very hot  and humid with little rain.  That means the Great lakes have heated up and via the water cycle, we should be due for some good snow this winter.  Only hope the temperature stays below zero so we don't get that yucky mix of rain/snow/freezing rain etc.

Give me booty deep snow or nothing

Here is another site to check out for snow weather:

http://snowday.community.officelive.com/default.aspx

I like this forecast for snow in the Pacific Northwest.  It looks like it will be good year for hours on the blower and my sleds.  With La Nina brewing in the Pacific this may be one to remember.

Cold and very snowy in Iowa...yay!

Cleveland, Ohio here.  Right dead center between very cold and very snowy!

Oh great we get Bitterly Cold with only average snow. That's New England for you, at least that means we probably won't get any bad ice storms this winter.