Brutal Or Mild: Almanacs Give Polar Opposite NY Winter Forecasts

NEW YORK, NY – This winter could be a mild, snow-free walk in the park or a bone-chillingly cold season filled with snow drifts and icicles. It all depends on if you believe the Farmer's Almanac or the Old Farmer's Almanac.

The two forecasters may have almost identical names, but their predictions for what's coming are at polar opposites.

The Old Farmer's Almanac, which released its forecast last week, expects a warm, wet winter with less snow than normal in the Northeast.

But the Farmer's Almanac dropped its prediction on Monday. And it's a lot bleaker.

For the Northeast, expect:

• Colder than normal temperatures.
• More snowfall than normal.
• Bitter cold, winds and snow from mid-February.
• Cold to keep its grip on the region after the official start of spring.

"Contrary to the stories storming the web, our time-tested, long-range formula is pointing toward a very long, cold, and snow-filled winter," said the Almanac's editor Peter Geiger.

"We stand by our forecast and formula, which accurately predicted the many storms last winter, as well as this summer’s steamy, hot conditions.”

The Old Farmer's Almanac has been forecasting the weather since 1792 and was founded by Robert B. Thomas who lived in Maine.

The Farmer's Almanac was founded In New Hampshire by David Young in 1818. Both use secret formulas to predict the weather that they keep closely guarded.

Lead image by Spencer Platt / Getty Images