September 3, 2006
Farmer's Almanac
PACIFIC NORTHWEST
Includes predictions for all or portions of California (Arcata, Eureka, Fortuna, McKinleyville, Yreka), Oregon (Beaverton, Eugene, Gresham, Portland, Salem), Washington (Bellevue, Everett, Seattle, Tacoma, Vancouver).
Winter will be a bit colder than normal, on average, with above-normal snowfall. Precipitation will be below normal in Washington and above normal in Oregon and California. The heaviest snow will fall in mid- to late February, with other snowfalls in mid-November, early to mid-December, and early to mid-January. The stormiest periods will be in early and mid-November, mid-December, and mid-March. The coldest temperatures will be in early December, mid-January, and mid-February.
April and May will be cooler and wetter than normal, on average, with the stormiest period in mid- to late April. The first half of April will be warmer than normal, with below-normal temperatures most of the time from the latter half of April through May.
Summer will be slightly cooler and drier than normal, on average, with the hottest temperatures in mid-July. Other warm periods will be in mid-June and mid- and late August.
September and October will be wetter and warmer than normal, on average.
PACIFIC SOUTHWEST
Includes predictions for all or portions of California (Long Beach, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose).
Winter will be slightly cooler than normal near the coast and much cooler inland, on average. Rainfall will be well above normal, with above-normal snowfall in the mountains. The most widespread snow will be in mid-January. The stormiest periods will be in mid- and late November and early and mid-February. The coldest periods will be in early December, mid-January, and mid- to late February.
April and May will be drier than normal, with temperatures above normal in April and below normal in May, on average.
Summer will be cooler than normal in coastal sections, but hotter than normal inland, on average. The hottest temperatures will be in mid-June and mid-August.
Expect stormy weather in early October, with total rainfall in September and October above normal in the north and below normal in the south. Despite very warm temperatures in mid-September and mid- to late October, temperatures will be near normal, on average.
DESERT SOUTHWEST
Includes predictions for all or portions of Arizona (Glendale, Mesa, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tucson), California (Brawley, Calexico, Coachella, El Centro, Indio), Colorado (Cortez, Dolores, Durango, Mancos, Towaoc), Nevada (Henderson, Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Pahrump, Winchester), New Mexico (Albuquerque, Farmington, Las Cruces, Roswell, Santa Fe), Texas (El Paso, Fabens, Pecos, San Elizario, Socorro), Utah (Aneth, Blanding, Bluff, Montezuma Creek, White Mesa).
Winter will be colder than normal with near-normal snowfall. Precipitation will be above normal in the east and slightly below normal in the west. The coldest temperatures will occur in early January, with other cold periods in early December, mid-February, and early March. The snowiest periods will be in mid-November, early December, and early and mid-January.
April will be warmer than normal and May will be cooler than normal, on average. Both months will have below-normal rainfall.
Summer temperatures will be near normal, on average. The hottest temperatures will be in mid-June, early and mid-July, and early and mid-August. Rainfall will be above average in the east but below normal in the west, continuing drought conditions.
September and October will be drier than normal, with temperatures near normal in the east and above normal in the west, on average.
INTERMOUNTAIN
Includes predictions for all or portions of Arizona (Flagstaff, Kayenta, Page, Tuba City, Winslow), California (Cedarville, Davis Creek, Eagleville, Fort Bidwell, Lake City), Colorado (Aurora, Colorado Springs, Denver, Fort Collins, Lakewood), Idaho (Boise, Idaho Falls, Meridian, Nampa, Pocatello), Montana (Bozeman, Butte, Helena, Kalispell, Missoula), Nevada (Carson City, Elko, Reno, Sparks, Sun Valley), New Mexico (Angel Fire, Chama, Dulce, Questa, Springer), Oregon (Hermiston, La Grande, Ontario, Pendleton, The Dalles), Utah (Ogden, Orem, Provo, Salt Lake City, West Valley City), Washington (Kennewick, Pasco, Richland, Spokane, Yakima), Wyoming (Casper, Evanston, Green River, Laramie, Rock Springs).
Winter will be colder and snowier than normal, with near-normal precipitation. The coldest temperatures will occur in mid-January, with other cold periods in early December, early January, and mid-February. The snowiest periods will occur in mid-November, mid-January, mid- and late February, and early and mid-March.
Temperatures in April and May will be near normal, on average, with above-normal precipitation.
Summer will be drier than normal, with below-normal temperatures in the north and slightly above-normal temperatures in the south, on average. The hottest temperatures will be in mid-June, mid-July, and early and mid-August.
September and October will be warmer than normal, on average, with precipitation near normal in the east and above normal in the west.
HIGH PLAINS
Includes predictions for all or portions of Colorado (Aurora, Colorado Springs, Denver, Greeley, Pueblo), Kansas (Colby, Dodge City, Garden City, Liberal, Ulysses), Montana (Billings, Great Falls, Havre, Laurel, Miles City), Nebraska (Alliance, Kearney, Lexington, North Platte, Scottsbluff), New Mexico (Clayton, Clovis, Portales, Raton, Tucumcari), North Dakota (Bismarck, Dickinson, Mandan, Minot, Williston), Oklahoma (Beaver, Boise City, Goodwell, Guymon, Hooker), South Dakota (Belle Fourche, Pierre, Rapid City, Spearfish, Sturgis), Texas (Amarillo, Borger, Dumas, Hereford, Pampa), Wyoming (Casper, Cheyenne, Cody, Gillette, Sheridan).
Winter will be much colder than normal in the northwest but near normal in the southeast. Precipitation will be near or a bit above normal, with near- or below-normal snowfall. The snowiest periods will be in early November, early January, mid-February, and early and late March. The coldest temperatures will be in early December, early and mid-January, and mid- and late February.
Although April will be warmer and drier than normal, on average, Denver will receive a heavy, wet snow in the latter half of the month. May will be cool and wet in the north and warm and dry in the south.
Summer will be cooler than normal, with near- to above-normal rainfall. The hottest temperatures will be in mid-June, late July, and early and mid-August.
September and October will be warmer and drier than normal, on average, despite an early September snowstorm in the northwest.
TEXAS-OKLAHOMA
Includes predictions for all or portions of Missouri (Hart, Hornet, Seneca, South West City), New Mexico (Eunice, Hobbs, Jal, Lovington, Portales), Oklahoma (Broken Arrow, Lawton, Norman, Oklahoma City, Tulsa), Texas (Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio).
Winter will be cooler than normal in the north and a bit milder than normal in the south. Rainfall will be slightly below normal, with near-normal snowfall. The coldest temperatures will be in early January, with other cold periods in early to mid- and late December and mid-January. The snowiest periods in the north will be in late December and early January.
April and May will be much warmer and wetter than normal in the north, but temperatures and precipitation will be near normal in the south.
Summer temperatures will be near or a bit hotter than normal. Rainfall will be above normal in Oklahoma, but most of Texas will have much-below-normal rainfall, with a severe drought continuing in The Valley and Hill Country. The hottest temperatures will be in mid- and late June, early and late July, and early August.
September and October will be warmer and drier than normal, on average.
HEARTLAND
Includes predictions for all or portions of Illinois (Alton, Galesburg, Moline, Quincy, Rock Island), Iowa (Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Des Moines, Sioux City, Waterloo), Kansas (Kansas City, Olathe, Overland Park, Topeka, Wichita), Missouri (Columbia, Independence, Kansas City, Saint Louis, Springfield), Nebraska (Bellevue, Fremont, Grand Island, Lincoln, Omaha), South Dakota (Canton, Lennox, North Sioux City, Vermillion, Yankton), Wisconsin (Baraboo, Fitchburg, Madison, Middleton, Monroe).
Winter will be much colder and snowier than normal, with temperatures a couple of degrees below normal, on average. The coldest periods will be occurring in early and mid-to-late December, early and mid-January, and early February. Significant snowfalls will be in mid-November; early, mid-, and late December; mid-January; and mid-February.
Early April will be cool, but mid-April through May will be very warm, with temperatures about eight degrees above normal, on average. Rainfall will be above normal in the north and below normal in the south.
Summer will be cooler than normal, on average, especially in the southeast. The hottest temperatures will be in late June and mid-August. Rainfall will be near normal in the north and below normal in the south.
September will be cooler and wetter than normal. October will be warmer and drier than normal, on average.
UPPER MIDWEST
Includes predictions for all or portions of Michigan (Alpena, Escanaba, Marquette, Menominee, Traverse City), Minnesota (Bloomington, Duluth, Minneapolis, Rochester, Saint Paul), North Dakota (Fargo, Grand Forks, Jamestown, Wahpeton, West Fargo), South Dakota (Aberdeen, Brookings, Mitchell, Sioux Falls, Watertown), Wisconsin (Appleton, Eau Claire, Green Bay, La Crosse, Oshkosh).
Winter will be much colder and snowier than normal, with temperatures a couple of degrees below normal. The coldest periods will be occurring in early and late December, early and mid-January, and mid-February. The snowiest periods will be in early December; early, mid-, and late February; and early March.
April will have a cold, snowy start, but temperatures from midmonth through May will be milder than normal, on average. Precipitation will be a bit below normal in the east and a bit above in the west.
Summer will be a bit cooler than normal, with near-normal rainfall. The hottest periods will be in late June, late July, and mid-August.
September will be slightly cooler and wetter than normal. October will be slightly milder and drier than normal.
LOWER LAKES
Includes predictions for all or portions of Illinois (Aurora, Chicago, Naperville, Peoria, Rockford), Indiana (Fort Wayne, Gary, Hammond, Indianapolis, South Bend), Michigan (Detroit, Flint, Grand Rapids, Sterling Heights, Warren), New York (Buffalo, Cheektowaga, Niagara Falls, Rochester, Tonawanda), Ohio (Akron, Cleveland, Dayton, Parma, Toledo), Pennsylvania (Erie, Hermitage, Meadville, Sharon, Warren), Wisconsin (Kenosha, Madison, Milwaukee, Racine, Waukesha).
Winter will be colder than normal, on average, especially in the west. Precipitation will be below normal, with below-normal snowfall except in the west and in areas that receive lake snows in a southwesterly flow. The coldest temperatures will be around Christmas and in early and mid- to late January and early and late February. The heaviest lake snows will be in early and mid-December and mid-January. The heaviest general snowfalls will be in mid-December, early and late January, and mid-February.
April and May will be warmer and drier than normal. The period from mid-April through mid-May will be much warmer than normal, with summerlike temperatures in mid- to late April and mid-May.
Summer will be a bit cooler and wetter than normal, on average. The hottest period will be in late July.
September and October will be a bit cooler and drier than normal, on average.
OHIO VALLEY
Includes predictions for all or portions of Illinois (Belleville, Collinsville, East Saint Louis, Granite City, O'Fallon), Indiana (Bloomington, Columbus, Evansville, Indianapolis, Richmond), Kentucky (Bowling Green, Covington, Lexington, Louisville, Owensboro), Missouri (Cape Girardeau, Jackson, Perryville, Poplar Bluff, Sikeston), Ohio (Cincinnati, Columbus, Dayton, Hamilton, Springfield), Pennsylvania (Bethel Park, Monroeville, Mount Lebanon, Pittsburgh, Plum), Tennessee (Bumpus Mills), Virginia (Abingdon, Big Stone Gap, Bluefield, Bristol, Marion), West Virginia (Charleston, Huntington, Morgantown, Parkersburg, Wheeling).
Winter temperatures will be slightly below normal, on average, with near-normal snowfall. Rainfall will be above normal, especially in the southwest. The coldest temperatures will be around Christmas and in early, mid-, and late January and early February. The most widespread snowfalls will be in early December, mid- and late January, and late February.
The first half of April will be rather cold, but mid-April through May will be much warmer than normal, with some of the yearÕs hottest temperatures in mid-May. Precipitation in April and May will be near or slightly below normal.
Summer temperatures will be near normal, on average. Rainfall will be a bit below normal in the east, a bit above in the west. The hottest periods will be in late July and mid-August.
September and October will be cool, with near- or slightly below-normal precipitation. Expect the first widespread snowfall in mid- to late October.
DEEP SOUTH
Includes predictions for all or portions of Alabama (Birmingham, Huntsville, Mobile, Montgomery, Tuscaloosa), Arkansas (Fayetteville, Fort Smith, Jonesboro, Little Rock, North Little Rock), Florida (Bellview, Brent, Fort Walton Beach, Panama City, Pensacola), Georgia (Acworth, Calhoun, Carrollton, Cartersville, Rome), Kentucky (Middlesboro, Strunk), Louisiana (Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Metairie, New Orleans, Shreveport), Mississippi (Biloxi, Greenville, Gulfport, Hattiesburg, Jackson), Missouri (Caruthersville, Hayti, Kennett, Portageville, Steele), Oklahoma (Arkoma), Tennessee (Chattanooga, Clarksville, Knoxville, Memphis, Nashville), Texas (Latex, Panola), Virginia (Bristol).
Winter will be a bit cooler than normal, on average, with record cold bringing a freeze all the way to the Gulf Coast in early January. Other cold periods will be in mid- to late December and in early and late February. The snowiest periods will be in early January and in early and late February. Rainfall will be well above normal in the north and near or slightly above normal in the south.
April will have near- or slightly below-normal temperatures, followed by an exceptionally warm May. Rainfall will be near normal in the north and below normal in the south.
Summer temperatures and rainfall will be near normal, on average. The hottest periods will be in mid- and late July and early and mid-August.
September and October will be a bit cooler and wetter than normal in the north and a bit warmer and drier in the south.
FLORIDA
Includes predictions for all or portions of Florida (Hialeah, Jacksonville, Miami, Saint Petersburg, Tampa), Georgia (Kingsland, Saint Marys).
Winter will be warmer and drier than normal. Expect temperatures to be slightly above normal, on average, and rainfall to be well below normal. The coldest temperatures will occur in mid- to late December, early January, and late February, but a damaging freeze is unlikely.
April and May will be much drier than normal, with much-below-normal rainfall, stressing crops and lawns and increasing the threat of fires. Temperatures will be near or a bit above normal.
Summer rainfall will be above normal, lowering the fire threat but not making up for the accumulated rainfall deficit, especially with temperatures slightly above normal, on average. The hottest periods will occur in mid-June, most of July, and early and late August.
September and October will be cooler and drier than normal, with temperatures cooler than normal, on average, and well-below-normal rainfall.
SOUTHEAST
Includes predictions for all or portions of Alabama (Fort Mitchell, Gordon, Phenix City, Seale, Smiths Station), Florida (Chattahoochee), Georgia (Atlanta, Columbus, Macon, Sandy Springs, Savannah), North Carolina (Charlotte, Durham, Greensboro, Raleigh, Winston-Salem), South Carolina (Charleston, Columbia, Greenville, Mount Pleasant, North Charleston), Virginia (Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Virginia Beach).
Winter will be colder and wetter than normal, on average, with above-normal snowfall, especially in eastern North Carolina. The coldest periods will be in mid- to late December, early January, and early and late February. The heaviest and most widespread snowfalls will occur around Christmas and in early and mid-January and late February.
April and May will be warmer and drier than normal, on average, with an early heat wave in mid-May.
Summer temperatures will be about a degree below normal, on average, with above-normal rainfall. The hottest temperatures will occur in mid- to late July and late August.
September and October will be cooler and drier than normal, on average, with especially chilly temperatures in the second half of October.
APPALACHIANS
Includes predictions for all or portions of District of Columbia (Washington), Georgia (Dillard, Sky Valley), Maryland (Aspen Hill, Bethesda, Frederick, Gaithersburg, Silver Spring), Michigan (Detroit, Grosse Pointe, Grosse Pointe Farms, Grosse Pointe Park, Grosse Pointe Woods), New Jersey (Augusta, Belvidere, Branchville, Newton, Swartswood), New York (Auburn, Binghamton, Elmira, Ithaca, Syracuse), North Carolina (Asheville, Hickory, Kernersville, Morganton, Winston-Salem), Pennsylvania (Allentown, Altoona, Lancaster, Reading, Scranton), Tennessee (Mountain City, Roan Mountain, Trade), Virginia (Arlington, Burke, Lynchburg, Reston, Roanoke), West Virginia (Charles Town, Keyser, Martinsburg, Petersburg, Ranson).
Winter will be colder than normal, with above-normal precipitation but near-normal snowfall. The coldest periods will be in mid- and late December, mid-January, and early February. The snowiest periods will occur in mid-December, early and late February, and early March.
Spring will come early, with some of the hottest temperatures of the year in mid- to late April and mid-May. Temperatures in April and May will be well above normal, on average, with well-below-normal precipitation.
Summer will be a bit cooler than normal, on average, with below-normal rainfall in most of the region. While this will provide many great days for outdoor activities, it will stress farms, gardens, and lawns.
September and October will be cooler than normal, on average, with near-normal precipitation and an early snow in mid- to late October.
ATLANTIC CORRIDOR
Includes predictions for all or portions of Connecticut (Bridgeport, Hartford, New Haven, Stamford, Waterbury), Delaware (Bear, Dover, Hockessin, Newark, Wilmington), District of Columbia (Friendship Heights, Washington), Maryland (Baltimore, Columbia, Dundalk, Ellicott City, Silver Spring), Massachusetts (Boston, Brockton, Cambridge, Springfield, Worcester), New Jersey (Edison, Elizabeth, Jersey City, Newark, Paterson), New York (Brentwood, Hempstead, New Rochelle, New York, Yonkers), Pennsylvania (Chester, Levittown, Norristown, Philadelphia, Radnor), Rhode Island (Cranston, East Providence, Pawtucket, Providence, Warwick), Virginia (Alexandria, Arlington, Hampton, Newport News, Richmond).
Winter temperatures will be slightly below normal, on average, with near-normal precipitation and above-normal snowfall, especially in the southeast. February will be the coldest, snowiest month. The snowiest periods will be in mid-December and mid- and late February. The coldest periods will be around Christmas and in early and late January and early and late February.
Spring will come early, with temperatures slightly above normal, on average, from mid-March through May. Rainfall will be below normal, on average, with many sunny days.
Summer temperatures will be slightly below normal, on average, with the hottest periods in mid-June and mid-August. Below-normal rainfall will continue, stressing crops and lawns.
A major hurricane will threaten in late September. Otherwise, September and October will be cooler than normal, with near-normal rainfall.
NORTHEAST
Includes predictions for all or portions of Connecticut (Canaan, North Granby, Sharon Valley, West Cornwall, Winsted), Maine (Auburn, Bangor, Lewiston, Portland, South Portland), Massachusetts (Chicopee, Haverhill, Lawrence, Lowell, Springfield), New Hampshire (Concord, Dover, Manchester, Nashua, Rochester), New Jersey (Colesville, Glenwood, McAfee, Sussex, Wantage), New York (Albany, Poughkeepsie, Schenectady, Troy, Utica), Pennsylvania (Matamoras), Vermont (Barre, Bennington, Burlington, Rutland, South Burlington).
Winter temperatures will be near normal, on average: a bit above in the north and a bit below in the south. Precipitation and snowfall will be near or slightly below normal. The snowiest periods will be in mid-November, in mid-December and just before Christmas, in mid-February, and in early and late March. The coldest temperatures will be in mid- to late January, with other cold periods in late December, early January, and much of February.
April and May will be drier than normal, despite an early April snowstorm. Temperatures, on average, will be a bit cooler than normal in the east and a bit warmer in the west.
Summer will be cooler than normal, on average, with rainfall near normal in the north and below normal in the south. The hottest periods will be mid-May, mid-June, early July, and mid- to late August, with no prolonged heat waves.
September and October will be cooler than normal, on average, with above-normal precipitation.
ALASKA
Includes predictions for all or portions of Alaska (Anchorage, Bethel, Fairbanks, Kenai, Wasilla).
Winter temperatures will be four degrees above normal, on average, in northern and central regions, due to exceptionally mild temperatures in January and February. In the south, temperatures will average one to two degrees colder than normal. The coldest periods will occur in mid-December, mid- to late January, and late February. Precipitation will be slightly above normal, on average, with below-normal snowfall in the southwest and above-normal snowfall elsewhere, especially in the north. The heaviest snowfalls will occur in early and mid-November, mid-December, mid-January, early February, and early and mid-March.
April and May will be cooler than normal in the north and slightly milder than normal in the south, with above-normal precipitation. The heaviest snowfalls will occur in early and late April.
Summer temperatures will be a degree or two warmer than normal, on average, with slightly above-normal precipitation. The warmest periods will be in early and mid-July and early August.
September temperatures will be slightly below normal, with October four degrees above normal, on average. Precipitation will be slightly below normal in the north and above normal elsewhere, with below-normal snowfall. The heaviest snowfall will occur in mid- to late October.
HAWAII
Includes predictions for all or portions of Hawaii (Hilo, Honolulu, Kahului, Pearl City, Waipahu).
Winter temperatures will average about a degree above normal, with the coolest periods in late November and mid-February. Rainfall will be slightly above normal in the western islands, but well below normal in the eastern islands. The rainiest periods will occur in late November, late December, mid-February, and early March.
This trend in temperatures and precipitation will continue in April and May: above-normal temperatures throughout, and rainfall below normal in the east and above normal in the west. The rainiest period will occur in mid- to late April.
Summer temperatures will continue above normal, on average, with the hottest periods in mid-June, early to mid-July, and mid-August. Rainfall will be slightly above normal in the western islands but well below normal in the eastern islands, with the rainiest period in mid-June.
September and October will be drier than normal, with temperatures near normal in the west and about a degree below normal in the east, on average. The coolest temperatures will occur in mid-October, with the rainiest period in early September.
NOTE: Temperature variations in Hawaii are largely elevation-based, with higher elevations noticeably cooler than elevations closer to sea level. Precipitation often varies tremendously throughout the islands, even at similar elevations. For example, Hilo, at an elevation of 31 feet above sea level, averages more than 130 inches of rain per year, while Honolulu, at a similar elevation (7 feet), averages only about 20 inches of rain per year. Because there is so much variation in rainfall, we have based the forecast on the Honolulu-Waikiki area, and expressed only general trends elsewhere throughout the islands. Thus the forecast does note a widespread rain, but not a locally heavy rainfall.
HOW THE OLD FARMER'S ALMANAC WEATHER FORECASTS ARE MADE
Our weather forecasts are determined by the use of a secret formula (devised in 1792 by the founder of this Almanac, Robert B. Thomas), enhanced by the most modern scientific calculations based on solar activity, particularly sunspot cycles. We also analyze weather records for particular locales. We believe nothing in the universe occurs haphazardly; there is a cause-and-effect pattern to all phenomena, including weather. It follows, therefore, that we believe weather is predictable.
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