Old Farmer's Almanac predicts 'super cold' winter

The Old Farmer's Almanac, the oldest periodical still continuing to be published in North America, is making its prediction for this coming winter.

For large portions of the country, the Almanac is predicting a brutally cold winter. That includes New England, the Ohio Valley and the Pittsburgh region.

The prediction for the Atlantic Corridor, which includes Philadelphia, is:

Winter will be colder and slightly wetter than normal, with above-normal snowfall. The coldest periods will be in late December and early and mid-January. The snowiest periods will be in mid- and late December, mid-January, and early to mid-February.

Meanwhile, according to the Almanac, summer will be hotter and drier than normal for our region.

"Winter will bring a frosty bite and next summer will be its mirror opposite, so get ready for a one-two punch," said Almanac editor Janice Stillman.

Reaffirming the chilling forecast, 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.

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.