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Like snow? Count the number of fogs.

According to folklore, “For every fog in August, there will be a snowfall.”

More August folklore includes:

“If the first week in August is unusually warm, the coming winter will be snowy and long.”

“If a cold August follows a hot July, it foretells a winter hard and dry.”

While many of us in the 21st century may think weather lore is more whimsical that wise, it’s hard to discount all of these “natural forecasters,” especially when they prove to be true. But how could a saying that’s been passed down from sailor to farmer to business executive really predict the weather?!

While not all weather lore is accurate, there are many sayings that prove to be on the mark time and time again. When you examine weather lore, you realize that the basics of this weather predicting method are careful observations that have been made over many years. Weather lore relies on the notion that there is a strong cause-and-effect relationship between nature and the weather.

A weather lore forecaster takes cues from nature at the time he or she needs to know what the weather is going to be like. It is more of a short-term forecast for a specific area, rather than a long-term forecast for broad areas.

What about the Farmers' Almanac's Forecast?

Here at the Farmers’ Almanac, we acknowledge and appreciate weather lore, but do not use it when we make our long-range weather predictions. We don’t count acorns or fogs. We have a mathematical and astronomical formula that has proven to be quite accurate.

In a few weeks, the 2010 Farmers’ Almanac goes on sale. In this newest edition, we will release what our WINTER WEATHER FORECAST is calling for.

Will it be warm or cold?
We cannot give you the details just yet, but we will tell you that it's a very interesing one . . .

 More to come – stay tuned or order your copy of the 2010 Farmers’ Almanac and get an entire year's worth of weather predictions in one book!