This winter will be filled with so many ups and downs on the thermometer, The Farmer’s Almanac says it had no choice but to dub it the “polar coaster” winter.
The exception is the western third of the country where it is predicting near-normal winter temperatures.
“Our long-range forecast is calling for yet another freezing, frigid, and frosty winter for two-thirds of the country,” editor Peter Geiger wrote.
“If you remember last winter’s freezing temperatures, you’re going to want to be prepared.”
The 2019-2020 winter outlook released this week is predicting that the worst of the “bitterly cold” conditions will affect areas east of the Rockies to Quebec and the Maritimes.
The biggest drop — with the most free falling, frigid temperatures — is forecast to take hold from the Prairie provinces into the Great Lakes, and the coldest outbreak of the season is predicted to come during the final week of January into the beginning of February.
“During this time, the Arctic air could cause temperatures to drop as low as –40 C over the Prairies,” the publication said.
The Farmer’s Almanac says based on its long-range outlook, spring will be slow to start in 2020, with winter lingering across Ontario, Quebec, the Maritimes and Newfoundland and Labrador.
It says occasional wet snow and unseasonably chilly conditions will hang on through March and into April.
The publication says it has been using an ancient formula to forecast weather conditions as much as 16 months in advance with up to 85 per cent accuracy for more than 200 years.
With files from CBC
CHEK News
