Old man winter will be on a tear this coming season, if the Farmer's Almanac is to be believed. The 192-year-old publication, which claims an accuracy rate of 80 to 85 percent, predicts "Numb's the word" for much of the U.S.

Midwest
The Midwest and the Great Lakes will see above-normal snowfall, especially during January and February, the almanac predicts.

Northwest/Mid-Atlantic
An unusually wet or snowy February is in store for the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions, the almanac says.

Southeast
The Southeast will see above-normal precipitation in January and February, the almanac says.

Southwest
The Almanac foresees a rainy December in the Southwest.

Pacific Northwest
February could bring drier than usual weather for the typically wet Pacific Northwest, according to the almanac.



Source: AOL.com - Welcome to AOL

__________________
Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take
But by the number of moments that take your breath away~

Bring it on!!!

__________________
I'm not a native, but I got here as fast as I could

As much as I love winter, I dread this pending one, for reasons I will try to concisely summarize here:

Most of northern/rural New England depends on heating oil as its home heating fuel. Some numbers say up to 70% of all homes use it. I don't know the exact numbers, but up here, I only know of a handful that don't use this fuel.

As of last check, it was still over $4.00 per gallon. This is $1.40 more per gallon than it was last year. (It was .99 when we moved here in 2001.) As if the region wasn't impoverished enough, this now presents a pending crisis of rather serious proportions. Not a day goes by when it isn't on the local/regional news, and it's going to become all the more newsworthy as winter approaches. There are emergency energy measures being instituted by the state government to provide heating assistance. Charities are beginning heating funds, and fund raisers are on the rise. There will be emergency heat shelters set up in specific towns, and "rescue squads" to retrieve people from freezing to death.

Heating oil is usually purchased in bulk and "on spec" the summer prior by plunking down several thousand dollars to "freeze" the price at the time and ensure that dollar-to-quantity amount received over the course of the winter. This summer prices were at the peak, and few went for what is referred to as the "pre-buy" option. So a lot of oil companies have instituted "price per gallon adjustments" that does away with that safety net.

The state has also figured out that maybe it's a good idea to institute some sort of "energy star" measures for homes (this was standard by the mid-1980's where I used to live) and get people to weatherize, insulate, etc. Really? No kidding?

Many are turning to wood (which we have in abundance here) as their fuel source. The issue: burning wood has inherent risks. Such as: it's dangerous. It requires some knowledge and care (such as frequent chimney cleaning, watching the fire, knowing flue temps via thermometers). It also requires that the woodburning chimney be lined - a concept most people aren't aware of. Lining alone costs upward of $1,000. Without it, the risk of chimney fire is almost off the charts.

During an average winter, an average of one house per week within a 50 mile radius of here burns to the ground. I was shocked by this when I first moved here. Around here, it's just...."Another one bites the dust..." Since fire departments are largely volunteer in rural areas and do operate on a budget, I am guessing that the house fires and department budgets are going to go OFF THE CHARTS this winter. Additionally, very few people/homes in this region seem to know anything about homeowner's insurance. Not a week goes by when a family has been left homeless, isn't insured, and a big fundraiser has to be held to "help" the family get by and relocated.

I come from a region where you can't even own the home w/o proof of homeowner's insurance, so I'm stumped.

People are moving away and leaving in droves. There are already at least a dozen abandoned (not for sale, just flat-out abandoned) homes in my 11 mile drive to my fitness center. That's on one road. I totally do not comprehend how people can just walk away from homes with actual VALUE....


Here's what I'm forseeing for my house: my home uses an average of 1,000 gallons of heating oil per winter. Last winter my house was at 55 degrees, supplemented by 3 cords of wood and 3 electric space heaters (also a huge source of fires if not carefully watched). So last winter, it was "only" $2,600 to heat my house. This year......staring down the tubes at $4k, for 5 months of heat. Not including the electric bill or anything else, like a mortgage. 3rd grade long division unnecessary.

Friends back in Midwest with comparably sized houses and natural gas heat are looking at max $400 per month.....They also pay less than half the cost per kwh for electric.

Even for those of us who do reasonably well, this is going to be The Winter to End All Winters for cost. I'm staring down the reality of $1,500 per month. And that's if it's NOT exceptionally cold......

And with all this, still not a single discussion about alternate forms of fuel and energy......wind energy met with severe resistance, etc. Northern New England wants its HEATING OIL.....why change a "good thing???" Man....

(thanks for letting me get this off my chest.....)

Wow MSL. That is an ugly picture being painted. No such thing as Energy star or high R values ? Man oh man.