Two Farmers Almanacs say NC’s quiet hurricane season is about to heat up
Despite researchers predicting “above-normal” and “well-above average” activity for the 2022 hurricane season, it’s been — knock on wood — a quiet year for the storms so far.
Just three storms have formed so far this hurricane season, which began June 1, and we’re on track to see no named storms in the entire month of August — which hasn’t happened since 1997.
For a state like North Carolina, which is no stranger to hurricanes and the devastation they can bring, the lack of storms this hurricane season is a relief — but hurricane season isn’t over yet.
Hurricane season lasts until Nov. 30 each year, which means there’s plenty of time for a storm to brew.
And according to two separate almanacs — both the Farmers’ Almanac and the Old Farmer’s Almanac — the Southeast may be in for a hurricane threat in the coming weeks.
Want to know more about what the almanacs say about the potential for hurricanes in the near future? And what’s the difference between the two almanacs?
We have answers to those questions and more below.
Farmers almanacs predict ‘hurricane threat’ mid-September
Both the Farmers’ Almanac and the Old Farmer’s Almanac — yes, there’s a difference, which we’ll explain below — are predicting a “hurricane threat” to reach the Southeast, possibly including North Carolina, in mid-September.
While both almanacs provide sparse details about the possible storm, here’s what they’re predicting:
▪ The Farmers’ Almanac is predicting the threat to occur between Sept. 12-15. The almanac describes the period as “unsettled,” and says the hurricane threat is likely for the Atlantic Seaboard.
Rainy conditions may stick around, the almanac says, as it predicts “showery, then clearing” conditions in the days immediately following the hurricane threat, then “windy, rainy conditions” after that.
▪ The Old Farmer’s Almanac is predicting the threat to occur between Sept. 11-15. The almanac then predicts thunderstorms to stick around for most of the remainder of September.
Difference between Farmers’ Almanac and Old Farmer’s Almanac
While the Farmers’ Almanac and the Old Farmer’s Almanac have similar names and serve similar purposes, they are different publications.
Both almanacs tout an accuracy of about 80%.
▪ The Old Farmer’s Almanac is, in fact, older than the Farmers’ Almanac. The Old Farmer’s Almanac was first published in 1792 and, according to its website, it is the oldest almanac in America.
A new edition of the Old Farmer’s Almanac is released every September, and includes information about when to plant crops, the moon’s phases, weather forecasts and more, such as trivia and humor. The almanac’s website (almanac.com) also contains much of the same information.
Each edition of the publication “calculates the tides and times for fishermen, travelers, sailors, bookkeepers, beekeepers, gardeners, prognosticators, pollsters, politician, cooks, and really anyone who walks this Earth, including farmers,” the Old Farmer’s Almanac website reads.
The almanac makes its long-range weather forecasts “from a secret formula that was devised by the founder of this Almanac, Robert B. Thomas, in 1792,” the almanac’s website reads.
▪ The Farmers’ Almanac is a little newer than the Old Farmer’s Almanac, first beginning publication in 1818.
Similar to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, the Farmers’ Almanac provides long-range weather predictions, plus “informative articles, helpful planning calendars, and information on everything from the best days to garden and fish, quit a bad habit, plus natural home remedies.”
The almanac is published in print annually, and is also updated online at farmersalmanac.com.
The Farmers’ Almanac makes its annual predictions using a “set of rules” developed by astronomer David Young, the almanac’s first editor. The predictions are made two years in advance and are not changed or updated once an edition is published.
“The formula takes into consideration things like sunspot activity, tidal action of the Moon, the position of the planets, and a variety of other factors,” the almanac’s website reads.
This story was originally published August 30, 2022 at 3:45 PM.
