Old Farmer's Almanac predicts 'super cold' winter

The Old Farmer's Almanac, the oldest periodical still continuing to be published in North America, predicts that nearly the entire country, especially the New England area, will suffer yet another very cold winter this season, followed up by an even hotter summer in 2015. Further national breakdown below.

According to the Almanac, in the Ohio Valley and Pittsburgh region the winter will be much colder than normal, with the coldest periods in mid-December, from late December through early January, and in mid- and late January.

Reaffirming the chilling forecast, the Almanac editor Janice Stillman said, "Colder is just almost too familiar a term ... Think of it as a refriger-nation," before noting that 'colder than average' is really only about 2-5 degree difference.

The Almanac predicts that the Northeast area of the U.S. will receive above average snowfall, though not necessarily in New England, where snowfall should remain normal. In the Atlantic Corridor (Washington, Philadelphia, New York City, Boston), winter will be colder and slightly wetter than normal, with above-normal snowfall. ... Summer will be hotter and drier than normal.

The Southeast is expected to get less rainfall, though Florida may have one of its rainiest winters in years. Optimistically, hurricane season is not expected to be very active, though the Almanac believes a major storm could strike the Gulf Coast in late August.

In the Lower Lakes area (including Chicago), winter will be colder than normal, with the coldest periods in late December, throughout January, and in early February. ... Summer will be hotter than normal, with near-normal rainfall.

In the Texas-Oklahoma region, winter temperatures, precipitation, and snowfall all will be below normal. Summer will be hotter and drier than normal, despite a hurricane threat in late July. The hottest periods will be in late June, early July, and early and late August.

On the West coast, despite normal winter rains, California's drought is expected to continue. Winter will be warmer than normal, with the coldest periods in late December and early to mid- and late February. Rainfall will be above normal in the north and below in the south.

Next summer is expected to be very dry across the country, according to the Almanac.

Since its first publication in 1792, The Old Farmer's Almanac has served as a reference book for mostly rural residents, containing weather forecasts, tide tables, planting charts, recipes, with articles revolving around gardening, astronomy and farming. The Almanac claims it has at least an 80% rate of accuracy, though there are studies that argue this figure.

Will your winter plans change after this news? Let us know in the comments below.