By Dori Modney (@Dori_Modney on Twitter)

Bone chilling, teeth chattering winter could be on the way

Aug 30, 2018 | 12:18 PM

LETHBRIDGE —   There is an entire generation, or two, who have no inkling of what the Farmers’ Almanac is.  There are others who view the publication as outright hokum, while still others swear by the time-honoured information shared in the yearly mustard-yellow booklet.
 
It will be interesting to see if the paperback’s prognostications are accurate this winter, as it forecasts teeth-chattering temperatures for 2018-2019.
 
The Canadian Farmers’ Almanac predicts a cold season, with below-normal temperatures for most of the country.
 
More specifically, “Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and western Ontario, will contend with temperatures much below seasonal norms.  February will be particularly bad, as temps are predicted to hit -40C or even -45C.  Snowfall is expected to be average. 
 
The bad news starts long before we arrive at February, as stormy and wet conditions are predicted by mid to late September, with heavy snowfall in late November and early December.
 
The one small consolation, is that the prairies won’t suffer alone, as most of the mid-west United States will deal with similar conditions.
 
 Everyone has their own view on the accuracy of the Farmers’ Almanac but, to be on the safe side, we may want to make sure the long underway and woolen gloves and toques are ready to go.