Fire up the snowmobile. It’s going to be a winter wonderland in 2018-2019.
The Canadian Edition of The Old Farmer’s Almanac has released its forecast for this coming winter and Western Canada is predicted to have an “above-normal level of snowfall.” If you live in the Prairies (Alberta to Manitoba), bring along a second scarf to stay warm. Thanks to a decrease in solar activity and the weak El Niño moving in, the Almanac is predicting colder-than-normal winter temperatures for most of Canada. One exception is Pacific Canada (British Columbia), where temperatures are expected to be within the normal range.
Here’s what the Almanac says about the two Western Canadian regional zones:
The Prairies
Winter temperatures will be colder than normal, with above-normal precipitation and snowfall. The coldest periods will occur in mid- to late December, early January, and mid- to late January, with the snowiest periods in early to mid-December, mid- and late January, late February, and mid- to late April.
Southern British Columbia
Winter will have near-normal temperatures, on average, with above-normal precipitation and snowfall. The coldest periods will be in late December, early January, and late February, with the snowiest periods in early to mid-January and late February.
The Old Farmer’s Almanac uses a 200-year-old formula that takes into account factors like sunspot activity, tidal action of the moon and position of the planets. The forecasts are actually calculated years in advance and the publisher claims they do not change them just to appease readers.
What do you think? Are you ready for winter’s bounty of white gold?
