Quantcast

The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

This Winter Will Be Colder Than Last Year so Enjoy Summer While It Lasts

By Nicole Levy | September 9, 2016 5:19pm | Updated on September 11, 2016 2:11pm
 The
The "Old Farmer's Almanac" is forecasting a colder winter than last year.
View Full Caption
DNAinfo/Katie Honan

Temperatures may be in the 90s this week, but come winter, the Big Apple may be in for a colder season than last year.

The most ominous forecast comes from the Farmers' Almanac, predicting a "colder-than-normal winter for two-thirds of the nation," including the Mid-Atlantic region.

But rival publication the Old Farmer's Almanac says winter temperatures in the area will be colder than last winter, "but still above normal."

Given that some accounts peg the accuracy of almanac weather forecasts at less than 40 percent, we turned to a third source for context and confirmation. 

According to AccuWeather meteorologist Bob Smerbeck, last winter was mild. 

"Overall, temperatures from last December through February averaged close to 6 degrees above normal for a 3-month period, which is significantly warm," he said.

The average temperature for that period in New York City is 41 degrees farenheit, he said. 

The city also saw above-average precipitation last winter thanks to winter storm Jonas in January — 2.67 inches of snow more than normal.

Temperatures and snowfall will be closer to average this winter, according to AccuWeather's preliminary forecast. That means a colder, but less snowy season. 

Asked to assign this winter a "misery index" from 0, "not miserable," to 10, "completely miserable," Smerbeck rated it a 5: "Given that we’re leaning toward a more average winter, I’d probably go right in the middle," he said.

But one big blizzard could knock the meter farther to the right.

"That one storm was a nightmare," the meteorologist said of Jonas. "People remember that more than the warm weather."