Farmers’ Almanac® predicts punishing heat, wild weather this summer

LEWISTON, Maine – Air conditioners and emergency supplies could be at a premium this summer, according to weather predictions published in the 2008 edition of the Farmers’ Almanac.

Summer officially begins on Friday, June 20 this year – though some calendars mistakenly list the date of the summer solstice on Saturday, June 21 – and the 191-year-old publication is predicting a warmer-than-normal summer across much of the nation, and an extremely active hurricane season.

In addition to the blistering heat, the Farmers’ Almanac warns that sections of the Midwest and the Mid-Atlantic could continue to see occasional bouts of very heavy rain, with heavier than normal precipitation also affecting portions of the Plains and Rockies. In contrast, the Pacific Coast is expected to be much drier than normal during the coming summer.

Hurricane season officially started June 1, and the Farmers' Almanac has predicted an active tropical storm season, with the Gulf Coast directly in the crosshairs for hurricanes in mid-July, mid-August, and mid-September. The associated tropical moisture from such systems is likely to flow northward, creating threat of excessive rainfall over many eastern locations. The hurricane season typically peaks around September 10.

After accurately predicting a “two-faced winter,” consisting of colder-than-normal temperatures to the east of the Mississippi and warmer weather to the west, the Farmers’ Almanac advised loyal readers that spring would have only one face: a cold, rainy one.

For most sections of the country, Farmers’ Almanac weather forecaster Caleb Weatherbee predicted a cold start to spring, including snow flurries across the Great Lakes and Midwest, as well as thunderstorms and squalls for most regions, continuing through April and May into early June.

The Farmers’ Almanac also warned of an exceptionally active tornado season in the Midwest. Those predictions were borne out, as heavy flooding ravaged areas along the Mississippi River, and a record-breaking number of deadly twisters – more than 700 in all – descended on the region between February and early May.

Farmers’ Almanac forecaster Caleb Weatherbee bases his long-range weather forecasts on a top-secret mathematical and astronomical formula that figures in sunspot activity, tidal action, the position of the planet in relation to the Sun, as well as a number of other factors. Readers of the Farmers’ Almanac estimate that its annual weather forecast is accurate between 80 and 85 percent of the time.

And if the summer has you dreaming of winter weather, the 2009 edition of the Farmers’ Almanac, which goes on sale on August 28, will reveal a prediction for the upcoming winter and beyond. Weather watchers can keep up to date on upcoming forecasts – for up to two months in advance – or pre-order a copy of the 2009 edition, by visiting www.farmersalmanac.com.

In addition to its famous long-range weather predictions and astronomical data, the Farmers’ Almanac also includes countless interesting new articles and annual favorites on ways to live life more resourcefully and more in tune with nature.

About the Farmers’ Almanac:
The Farmers’ Almanac, has been published every year since 1818. Featuring a trademark orange and green cover, it retails for $5.99. The Farmers’ Almanac contains a wealth of useful and interesting articles, as well as long-range weather predictions, gardening advice, recipes and more. Visit on the Web at www.farmersalmanac.com.