Old FA predicts possibly the coldest Feb EVER for the South

[dhead]

I'm surprised to see the forecasts for the Deep South and Texas by the Old Farmers Almanac which predicts temps 10 deg below average for the region, with heavy snows in the upper South and freezes down to the Gulf Coast.
It will be interesting to see how this winter pans out.

[Jagno]

Oh how I pray that this prediction doesn't come to fruition because us cajuns cannot function in the cold or ice.
Our homes are not insulated like those of you in the north. Our floors, nor our interior walls have any insulation whatsoever due to the extreme heat and tropical conditions that we receive normally.
Our idea of a winter coat is an all weather trench coat with a thin flannel lining that can be removed. We can handle the 10 degree drop in temps because on a day like today that would put us at 85 instead of 95.
We did experience an ice storm several years ago and we were completely paralyzed with no electricity for a week. I had a fireplace installed immediately following that storm so that if nothing else I would have means of staying warm and preparing food. I live out in the country so we have no gas and I am all electric. I've since learned what prepardness is and now would be far better off than I was then but I really don't wish that on anyone.

[Guest]

can you give the forecast for zone 3 please? can you also give for zone 2?

[yoda]

can you give the forecast for zone 3 please? can you also give for zone 2?

Hold on Nikolai.. I get mine today... I will PM what they say to you.

[Guest]

ty yoda

[Guest]

I'm surprised to see the forecasts for the Deep South and Texas by the Old Farmers Almanac which predicts temps 10 deg below average for the region, with heavy snows in the upper South and freezes down to the Gulf Coast.
It will be interesting to see how this winter pans out.

Cant say i totally disagree with this. Perhaps not that cold though. But from all the data i have been seeing it does look as if alot of the middle of the nation will see the brunt of the colder air masses this winter. Which should keep most below normal in the temps dept and above normal with the snows. This is especially true from the Plains into the Midwest/Lakes/TN and OH Valley's! Alot of other's (Seasonal forecasters) are saying the same as well.

[roarusdogus]

I'm surprised to see the forecasts for the Deep South and Texas by the Old Farmers Almanac which predicts temps 10 deg below average for the region, with heavy snows in the upper South and freezes down to the Gulf Coast.
It will be interesting to see how this winter pans out.

Cant say i totally disagree with this. Perhaps not that cold though. But from all the data i have been seeing it does look as if alot of the middle of the nation will see the brunt of the colder air masses this winter. Which should keep most below normal in the temps dept and above normal with the snows. This is especially true from the Plains into the Midwest/Lakes/TN and OH Valley's! Alot of other's (Seasonal forecasters) are saying the same as well.

Please elaborate on your ideas and data. thanks.

[PTrackerLA]

I would love to see a cold winter, last winter was pretty much a bust around here. Hoping to see some snow this year too, last time was new years day 2002.

[Amanzi]

I will take anything under 70f for a high this winter

[GAStorm]

Anyone know what the Old Farmer's Almanac said last year? We got the shaft in February with a brief wet snow, and not enough cold air for it to stick around.

[CaptinCrunch]

Anyone know what the Old Farmer's Almanac said last year? We got the shaft in February with a brief wet snow, and not enough cold air for it to stick around.

A good question to ask here http://www.almanac.com/phorum/list.php?f=3

[GAStorm]

A good question to ask here http://www.almanac.com/phorum/list.php?f=3

Thanks for the link. I found the following info from last year's forecast:

Region 4: Piedmont and Southeast Coast
Annual Weather Summary
November 2003 - October 2004

Overall, the winter will be colder than normal. Temperatures from November through mid-January will be four degrees colder than normal, on average, with temperatures from late January through March two degrees milder than normal, on average. Expect drier than normal weather in the north and wetter than normal weather in the south, especially in the southeast. Snowfall will be above normal across the north, due to heavy snow in early December. Elsewhere, expect normal or below-normal snowfall.

April and May will be warmer than normal, with near-normal rainfall in April, then heavy rains in the southeast during May.

June will be dry, with near-normal rainfall in July and August. Temperatures will average a degree or so hotter than normal, thanks to the heat waves in mid- to late June, the middle of August, and late July.

September will be near normal in both temperatures and rainfall. October will be warmer than normal, but with frequent rain, sometimes heavy.

[Anonymous]

I would love to see a cold winter, last winter was pretty much a bust around here. Hoping to see some snow this year too, last time was new years day 2002.

Yep I wasn't impressed with last February down here either. We averaged below normal (-3F) but no ice or snow in the eastern Carolinas, and no sub-freezing temps. Just allot of cold rain.

[JenyEliza]

Anyone know what the Old Farmer's Almanac said last year? We got the shaft in February with a brief wet snow, and not enough cold air for it to stick around.

Yes, we did get the shaft last winter. My 9 year old twins were massively disappointed. Especially since the January event was forecast for their birthday weekend...and turned out to be nothing but cold, cold rain.

WE WANT SNOW!! GIVE US SNOW. GIVE US ANOTHER MARCH 1993!!

Jeny

[GAStorm]

Yes, we did get the shaft last winter. My 9 year old twins were massively disappointed. Especially since the January event was forecast for their birthday weekend...and turned out to be nothing but cold, cold rain.

WE WANT SNOW!! GIVE US SNOW. GIVE US ANOTHER MARCH 1993!!

Jeny

Well, not sure if we will ever see a storm like the one in '93, but it would be nice to have something close to it. We need a classic gulf storm to bring heavy snow to the south. Everyone knows that is something way overdue!!

[JenyEliza]

Yes, we did get the shaft last winter. My 9 year old twins were massively disappointed. Especially since the January event was forecast for their birthday weekend...and turned out to be nothing but cold, cold rain.

WE WANT SNOW!! GIVE US SNOW. GIVE US ANOTHER MARCH 1993!!

Jeny

Well, not sure if we will ever see a storm like the one in '93, but it would be nice to have something close to it. We need a classic gulf storm to bring heavy snow to the south. Everyone knows that is something way overdue!!

Well, you're probably right its too much to hope for another '93. But even a really good storm to close the town down for a couple of days would be fine by me!

I've lived in the area since '68. I recall the most significant storms were 1973 (major ice storm), 1982 (big surprise snow storm in middle of work day), 1993 (superstorm)....and....if you look at the pattern...it does appear we're OVERDUE for another signficant winter weather event.

Maybe this will be the year? Let's hope!!!

WOOO HOOO...bring on the SNOW!!

Jeny

[GAStorm]

Well, you're probably right its too much to hope for another '93. But even a really good storm to close the town down for a couple of days would be fine by me!

I've lived in the area since '68. I recall the most significant storms were 1973 (major ice storm), 1982 (big surprise snow storm in middle of work day), 1993 (superstorm)....and....if you look at the pattern...it does appear we're OVERDUE for another signficant winter weather event.

Maybe this will be the year? Let's hope!!!

WOOO HOOO...bring on the SNOW!!

Jeny

Well Jeny, '82 definitely brings back some memories! My brother and I went to the mall not knowing what was to come the day of the storm. By the time we got out, there was heavy snow falling and we were caught in some really bad traffic! All of the roads were covered with a couple inches of snow, and the local mets didn't predict the storm at all! I think we had a total of 6 or 7 inches of snow with some sleet mixed in as well. That was a great year for winter weather! If only this winter could be like that!!

[Tri-State_1925]

Keep in mind some of the people who suffer as a direct result of these major storms. I get fired up for snowstorms as much as anyone, and I've have seen my fare share of wild early AM noreaster events (trees coming down close to the house, the eerie light blue -- like daylight -- an entire cloud-filled sky turns with lightning at 3 AM in the heart of a storm, etc). However, I can no longer ignore the price that others pay, as I've seen it first hand.

[JenyEliza]

Keep in mind some of the people who suffer as a direct result of these major storms. I get fired up for snowstorms as much as anyone, and I've have seen my fare share of wild early AM noreaster events (trees coming down close to the house, the eerie light blue -- like daylight -- an entire cloud-filled sky turns with lightning at 3 AM in the heart of a storm, etc). However, I can no longer ignore the price that others pay, as I've seen it first hand.

In January 2000, we had a "surprise" ice storm overnight. My twin (then just turned) 5 year old children were sound asleep.

At 3am we had the tops of two 75 foot pine trees land on our home and destroy the roof of our house, the next morning another one got my minivan. We were fine, but the house, van and yard were in bad shape. We were without power or heat for the better part of a week. It took until May 2000 to negotiate the settlement with my insurance, hire a contractor and replace the roof. The car settlement took about that long too.

Having been on the receiving end of winter storm damage personally, we still look forward to a good winter storm. Just so long as it doesn't involve ICE.

Jeny

[JenyEliza]

Well, you're probably right its too much to hope for another '93. But even a really good storm to close the town down for a couple of days would be fine by me!

I've lived in the area since '68. I recall the most significant storms were 1973 (major ice storm), 1982 (big surprise snow storm in middle of work day), 1993 (superstorm)....and....if you look at the pattern...it does appear we're OVERDUE for another signficant winter weather event.

Maybe this will be the year? Let's hope!!!

WOOO HOOO...bring on the SNOW!!

Jeny

Well Jeny, '82 definitely brings back some memories! My brother and I went to the mall not knowing what was to come the day of the storm. By the time we got out, there was heavy snow falling and we were caught in some really bad traffic! All of the roads were covered with a couple inches of snow, and the local mets didn't predict the storm at all! I think we had a total of 6 or 7 inches of snow with some sleet mixed in as well. That was a great year for winter weather! If only this winter could be like that!!

'82 was GREAT. I was working at a hospital at the time in the pharmacy as a Technician.

When it started bucketing down, my boss gave me a choice....share one of the ONLY available rooms with the (very strange) male Pharmacist...sleep in the Cafeteria....or find someone in a 4x4 to come pick me up.

I chose option C. In fact, my roommate at the time worked in Admissions. Her boyfriend had a 4x4, and they came to pick me up. We went to the Korean convenience store on South Cobb Dr. to pick up beer and snacks, then spent the rest of the day doing donuts and stuff in parking lots.

I was 19 at the time, and totally clueless about being safe. It all seemed like good fun to me. Flash forward 22 years....LOL. I wouldn't be caught dead doing those things now. But, WHAT A BLAST we had that day!!

Jeny