Warm, Dry Summer 2021 In Store For Washington: Farmers' Almanac

WASHINGTON — Residents of the Pacific Northwest should be counting their lucky stars, as it's one of the few regions that doesn't have a disastrous summer ahead of it, according to the latest prediction from the Farmers' Almanac.

The Farmers' Almanac 2021 Summer Outlook, released Friday, predicts a pretty intense summer for much of the country. Oklahoma, Nebraska, Kansas and South Dakota are all warned to brace for "severe weather" and their neighbors aren't much better off.

In Texas and New Mexico, the Almanac warns of "oppressively hot" weather, while the rest of the midwest will scrape by with simply "searing" temperatures. The Great Lakes region is predicted to be muggy and thundery, compared with the old South which will merely be sweltering and thundery.

"Summer should be stormy, with a greater-than-average frequency of thunderstorms for a large portion of the country. Many of these storms will be strong, particularly over the eastern third of the nation," the publication said.

Compared to all that, the Pacific Northwest's should be a breeze, with the Almanac simply predicting warm, dry weather for Washington, Oregon and Idaho. The rest of the West Coast also doesn't get too wild, but will be hot instead of warm.

Unfortunately that heat means there's a chance for last year's wildfires to repeat themselves.

Related: Wildfire Prevention Bill Draws Bipartisan Support

As for when it will be the warmest, the Almanac is predicting the heat will come a little later in the season. Normally, temperatures peak in July or early August, but Farmers' Almanac says it may be delayed this year, with the warmest weather arriving in late August or even early September.

Unlike most weather prediction services — like the National Weather Service, who are very transparent with their methods — the Farmers' Almanac's predictions are shrouded in mystery. Their secret formula, used by the Almanac since 1818, is reportedly based on sunspot activity, tidal forces from the moon's gravitational pull, planetary alignment and other factors. It's known only by the almanac's weather prognosticator, who goes by the pseudonym Caleb Weatherbee.

Despite their mysterious sources, the Almanac claims their predictions are between 80 to 85 percent accurate.

"While some may question how a publication that started over 200 years ago can make such accurate weather forecasts, the Farmers’ Almanac editors like to remind everyone that this formula has been time-tested, challenged, and approved for nearly two centuries," the Almanac said.

To read the full summer 2021 forecast from the Farmers' Almanac, visit the group's website.

Patch staffers Lucas Combos and Chris Mosby contributed to this report.