[TAC] Weather this winter

[Hank Kohl]

Although the past two years on Miquelon have been in the 40's, here is
another view of what this winter is going to be like!

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 Almanac Warns of Temperature Fluctuations
 By JERRY HARKAVY, Associated Press Writer  2 hours,  21 minutes ago  		 	  

 LEWISTON, Maine - Get your sweaters, mittens and hats ready. The
Farmers' Almanac warns that the coming winter will bring unusually
sharp fluctuations in temperature, and says readers "may be reminded
of riding a roller, or in this case, 'polar' coaster."
 

"Mother Nature seems to be in the mood for some amusement this winter
season," the almanac said in its 2006 edition, just off the presses.

The coldest weather will be in the Northeast, which also will get
plenty of snow, the almanac said. It predicts cold weather for the
South and Mid-Atlantic regions and snowy but mild weather in the Great
Lakes and Midwest.

Parts of the Rockies and the Great Plains may have drier-than-normal
weather, adding to the area's continuing drought, but
wetter-than-normal weather is predicted for the Pacific Northwest and
lower Texas.

The 189-year-old almanac claims 80 percent to 85 percent accuracy for
the forecasts written under the name Caleb Weatherbee.

The forecasts are prepared two years in advance using a secret formula
based on sunspots, the position of the planets and the tidal action of
the moon, said editor Peter Geiger.

The         National Weather Service  questions the accuracy of such
long-range forecasts, but almanac officials say its predictions stack
up well against those of traditional meteorologists.

Chris Vaccaro, a weather service spokesman in Silver Spring, Md.,
wouldn't comment on the almanac's predictions without knowing "the
methodology or algorithms" used to produce them, but said any forecast
more than a week in advance is subject to change.

The almanac, not to be confused with the New Hampshire-based Old
Farmer's Almanac 24 years its senior, claims a circulation of nearly 5
million. Most are sold to businesses that give them away as a goodwill
promotion. Other versions are sold by retailers in the United States
and Canada.

This year's almanac contains the usual mix of recipes, anecdotes,
corny jokes, quizzes and helpful hints.

"In today's busy world, people want an escape," said managing editor
Sondra Duncan. "They look to the almanac to connect to the simple
pleasures."

Pumpkins get plenty of ink this year, first in recipes that include
pumpkin pie, pumpkin gratin, pumpkin dip and pumpkin pancakes.

But an article also describes how a hollowed-out pumpkin can be used
as a boat, as is done each year at the Windsor-West Hants Pumpkin
Festival and Regatta in Nova Scotia.

Potential participants beware: "Your pumpkin, or personal vegetable
craft (PVC) as they are known, can rarely be used twice due to
structural ravages," the almanac says.

___ 

On the Net: 

Farmers' Almanac: http://www.farmersalmanac.com

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--
'Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their 
level then beat you with experience.'    -anon