Everyone is talking about the weather and it’s impact on our lives. Managing Editor, Sandi Duncan, Philom. was a guest on CNN American Morning earlier today. The setting was a park in NYC and the question - where’s the snow. Yes, NYC has been spared the misery of winter (so far) , but all around the Northeast, Midwest, and West, there has been more than ample snows and cold this winter.

The interviewer touched on Global Warming. Sandi and the Farmers’ Almanac recognize that gas emissions are not helping our quality of life. Ever since 1818 when the Farmers’ Almanac started, we have provided useful advice, tips and articles on ways to live in harmony with our great planet. In the 2008 edition we have an article that suggests ways we can all live more responsibly and, peppered throughout this site, we offer unique ways we can live life in a more sustainable fashion.

The question posed to Sandi “is this year’s wild weather due to Global Warming?” Her response and the Almanac’s is ” we don’t take global warming into consideration when doing our forecasts. Our predictions are based on a formula that takes solar cycles, astronomical data and others factors into play, but not global warming.” There are obvious warming trends, however, our long-range outlook for a cold winter on the East has been every accurate. But, why hasn’t NYC seen snow? That is a good question and according to our predictions, winter is far from over. A couple months ago there was great concern about the drought that had gripped the Southeast. We felt that this winter would be wet for this zone and Mother Nature has really “poured it on”

But, in the meantime, we all need to do our part and protect the Earth. Greenhouse emissions do need to be reduced for obvious reasons. Farmers’ Almanac Television is all about “Sustainable Living”.

On Saturday morning we will hear form Punxsutawney Phil and other groundhogs about the rest of the winter. We think there is 6 more weeks but will give the little critters their time in the spotlight.

Check out our show on Public Television and add farmersalmanac.com o your favorite websites.

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global warming, groundhog day, Punxsutawney Phil, Farmers’ Almanac

by pgeiger
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When I was small, I heard that it was good when it snowed because it was called a “poor man’s fertilizer”. The person that told me was an old farmer, so I never questioned the saying. Is there truth behind the saying?

 Aside from water, nitrogen is the only element that snow puts back into the Earth. However, lightning and rain actually emit a greater proportion of nitrogen than snow. What probably makes snow good for the soil is that it feeds nitrogen into the soil at a slower and more even rate (through melting) than a thunderstorm, which delivers precipitation at a more rapid rate.

So, my friend was right and maybe he knew that all along.

The folks at Farmers’ Almanac Television have a unique way of covering stories. Have you had an opportunity to watch the video (on our home page) about Punxsutawney Phil and the activities surrounding  Groundhog Day??  It is must see TV.

by pgeiger
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It is not unusual to get asked about the weather. We do well with our predictions going out 2 years. As I have shared before, brides, company event planners and vacationers count on us for what will happen. I get many questions about historical weather. We are located in Maine and I don’t have the ability to recap stats going back into history. For that information, I check with the National Weather Service and NOAA who deal with the climate.

Here is a recent question: ,

Were having a discussion on weather in Wi.  What is the coldest weather recorded without the wind-chill factor.  E. Lange

 To answer the question (in part) I checked with NOAA which offers averages over many years. In this case I could pinpoint four cities in Wisconsin going back 60 years. The results: Green Bay -   -31, La Crosse -   - 37,  Madison -      -37,  Milwaukee-   -27. It doesn’t answer the question about the entire state and all of history. But, the chances are  the temperatures that are reflected as the coldest are close to what might have occurred years before. 

By the way, the coldest temp in the US over the last half century:  McGraw Alaska at -75, Bettles, AK - -70 and Big Delta AK -63. In fact Alaska has many communities that are -40 degrees or colder. In the Continental US you have to go to International Falls, Mn. with a record -46 or Aberdeen SD at -45. I think the coldest non wind-chill I have  experienced was -35.  That was cold enough!

Have you experienced a colder temperature? If so where were you at the time. Speaking of historical weather, have you tried our Weather Time Machine on the home page - it can answer specific questions on a special day.

by pgeiger
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It only happens every four years but here is a question that I do get from time to time:What does the word “bissextile” mean? My Webster’s dictionary and Merriam-Webster online does not have it listed. Thank you for your response. Gary.

I was doing a radio interview a few years ago with a “elder DJ” who was a real comic. Before going to a commercial break, he said I’ll get you with this next question. So, when we came back he said so why are you bisexual? I had a magnifying glass in my bag and grabbed it quickly. I made Bud reread the front of the Farmers’ Almanac. Upon closer scrutiny, he changed his question to “why are you bissextile”?

Bissextile is listed on the front of the Farmers’ Almanac and refers to it being a Leap Year. The Webster Dictionary defines it as “containing or noting the extra day of leap year”. From Latin it comes from bi(s)sextil(is) (annus) - leap year. There is also a word bissextus which by definition is February 29th, the extra day added to the Julian Calendar every fourth year except those years evenly divisible by 400.

2008 is that Year to take a Leap and we enjoy an additional day - February 29th.

Technorati Tags: leap year, 2008, bissextile, farmers almanac , leap day

by pgeiger
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As I drove home last night, the near Full Moon glowed  over the horizon in all it’s orange glory. As we note on our website, hundreds of years ago Native American tribes connected an activity or an event with each passing Full Moon. December was called the Cold Full Moon. January is best known as the Full Wolf Moon. It was cold outside and as Native Americans huddled in their villages, packs of wolves clustered and howled angrily in the outside in the snow. Wolves were  hungry, cold and spoke to each other over many miles.

Not all tribes had the same name for Full Moons. This was also called the Old Full Moon and some tribes referred to it as the Full Snow Moon. The exact moment of “fullness” is 8:32am (Eastern) on January 22nd. Be sure to catch a glimpse of this bright light in the sky tonight and for the next few days. And, listen for a howling wolf (a dog will do). 

by pgeiger
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One question I receive throughout the year involves Ember Days . We usually list them all on our calendar pages. But, for whatever reason we only listed them half of them this year. So, what is an Ember Day and who really cares?

Among some Christians, it is the custom to observe these clusters of three days roughly at the beginning of the four seasons. They fall on a Wednesday, Friday and Saturday following:

   * The First Sunday in Lent

   * Pentecost Sunday

   * September 14th

   * December 13th (or, Third Sunday of Advent)

The history of these days is somewhat suspect. Their name is apparently derived from Latin Quatuor Temporum, meaning “Four Times” or “Four Seasons”.  There is a connection between Ember Days and ordination into the Priesthood. Others use these dates to prepare for the seasons (making note of weather) and for others, it is “days of prayer for peace”.

Whatever you might use Ember Days for, please note how they fall during 2008:

February 13, 15, 16

May 14, 16, 17

September 17, 19, 20

December 17, 19, 20

by pgeiger
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Did you ever come across a set of footprints and wonder what kind of animal made them? After a recent storm, I noticed a variety of non-human prints left in the snow. I recalled an article we published in the 2003 Farmers’ Almanac that offered suggestions on ways to identify wildlife prints. Here are a few tips from this story:
Identify the critter by its toes.

• Deer and moose leave an imprint of two clear semicircular hoof-like toes.
• Foxes, coyotes, dogs and wolves leave oval shaped prints showing four toes with claws and separate heel pads.
• Cats and bobcats do the same, except their tracks leave no claw marks.
• There are five-toed prints from weasels, minks, skunks, otters, raccoons, muskrats, beavers, and black bears. Finally, there are critters with four front toes and five hind toes including chipmunks, mice, red and gray squirrels, and woodchucks.

Often, the only way to identify animals with similar footprints and movement patterns is to measure the size of the footprints, then the length of their strides and width of their trails.

•  A coyote’s footprint is about 3″ to 3 1/2″ long, while a fox measures 2″ to 2 7/8″.
• A cat and a bobcat are similar in size but the length of their strides is far different. The bobcat leaves a 10″ to 13″ distance between prints. A house cat has a small 6″ to 7″ stride. To make it a little more complicated, you have to consider the part of the country you are in when looking at prints. Coyotes in the East are generally larger than those in the West.

The tracks I saw were clearly deer and fox. If you get a fresh coat of snow ( I see there is finally snow in the Southeast today), or are out hiking in the woods, take a moment to see who or what you are sharing the trails with.

If you spot tracks or have experience identifying animals, contact me at pgeiger@farmersalmanac.com

by pgeiger
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With all the frozen precipitation blanketing many areas of the country, I thought we should share some icy facts with you.

In the 2008 Farmers’ Almanac, we have a great story on “Everything Ice” page 152. In this article, freelancer Lynn Jones shares some great bits of icy tips, including the answer to “Why is Ice Slippery:”

This would seem like an easy question, but, surprisingly, scientists are still debating the answer. The standard textbook explanation is that when ice-skating, for example, the pressure of a skate’s blade on the ice lowers the freezing point of the top layer of ice, causing it to melt; it then refreezes once the pressure is gone.

New research indicates that the pressure theory doesn’t hold water. One new theory says that friction makes ice slippery; another says that the molecules on the surface of ice vibrate at a higher rate and stay liquid at a lower temperature. Which theory will prove right? We’ll have to wait and see.

For more icy tidbits, be sure to check out pages 152-156 of the 2008 Farmers’ Almanac.

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ice, why is ice slippery, icy facts, Farmers’ Almanac weather tidbits

by pgeiger
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When you publish a book or put together a television program, much effort goes into getting ever little detail correct. The Farmers’ Almanac is proofread at least 4 times after many eyes have already viewed it.  Our television program goes through all kinds of hurdles to insure complete accuracy. Going back to my Dad’s time as editor, there is always one (or two) people, each edition,  who pick up on the smallest detail that we missed. While I “hate” to be wrong”, I so enjoy having someone “catch us”. Read below:

I was watching Farmers Almanac TV and there was a story about the bride’s bouquet. One picture was of a bride within a horse shoe for good luck. The horse shoe was upside down. All the good luck would flow out!!!  Of all the people in the world who should know that you  should. Otherwise, I am enjoying the programs.

Sincerely, Margaret

Kudos Margaret. Of course we should have known about the horseshoe and now we do.

If you catch something that you think is wrong, let us hear from you. Many times we can back it up, but then there are the Margaret’s of the world who become our “unofficial support staff

by pgeiger
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I hear from hundreds of brides-to-be each year looking for that “perfect” weather day. The Farmers’ Almanac is the only source for weather that goes out two years. We are not perfect but we do offer couples a look at what to expect.

One of the major articles in the 2008 Farmers’ Almanac is our Worst Wedding Weather Contest. Since September and for the next month, we are accepting stories about the coldest, soggiest, hottest and most miserable experience Mother could toss at a ceremony. By going to our website www.farmersalmanac.com and clicking on the wedding icon, you can tell us what happened in 350 words or less. We are accepting entries until Valentine’s Day - February 14th. A panel of judges will narrow the entries to ten.

On February 29th (Leap Day) we will have America vote for the best of the worst. If you or a friend would like to share your story, please go to our site. Top prize is a 7 days cruise on a Royal Caribbean ship in the Caribbean, second prize is an L.L. Bean gift certificate and third place is a romantic dinner for two.

If you were blessed with great wedding weather, then check our site on February 29th and cast your vote!

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wedding , worst wedding weather contest, Farmers’ Almanac, Valentine’s Day

by pgeiger
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