SULLIVAN COUNTY – Tuesday’s snowstorm might have caught many in Sullivan County off guard – but not for readers of The Old Farmer’s Almanac.

Right there – on page 121 – was the prediction for November 11:

“Veterans deserve thanks from us all and maybe some help when shovelin’ calls.”

How do it know?

Well, The Old Farmer’s Almanac was established in 1792 and has been predicting the weather, with nearly 80 percent accuracy, using sunspots, which are magnetic storms on the surface of the Sun.

Don’t ask us, we are just reporting what they say.

How is this  winter going to be?

Well, the Old Farmer’s Almanac says, “Winter temperatures will be above normal, with the coldest periods in December and early January.

“Precipitation and snowfall will be below normal, and the snowiest periods will be mid-November, early and mid-December and early February.”

From December 1 through the 17 the Almanac says it will have “snowy periods, turning very cold.”

And for Christmas?

“Snow showers and very cold.”

January looks like light snow during the first two weeks with very cold temps.

It will then turn sunny and milder, with possibly rain showers during the end of the month.

Snow, rain, snow, rain, and more snow are predicted for February, which the Almanac predicts will be 7 degrees above normal, with an average temperature of 30 degrees.

And as always, no one rhymes the weather better than the editors of The Old Farmer’s Almanac.

For November:

“Clock hands spin,

Let’s Sleep in!

Snowfalls begin and frost nips your skin.

Veterans deserve thanks from us all and maybe some help when shovelin’ calls!

Annual feasts are now fixed, amidst a bone-chilling wintery mix.”

For December:

“All the cars are going slow, but can’t get far in the blowing snow!

Windchill grating, not abating.

Plunging temps getting coldest right around the Winter Solstice.

Holiday season now freezin’ for most…

warm up with a ‘26 New Year’s toast!”

For January

“New Year’s swoons for a super-moon!

Snowy surge makes shoveling slower, 

time to splurge on a new snow blower.

Milder, then wilder;

sun, rain and flurries float, ending the month on a chilly note.”

For February

“Groundhogs are snowbound,

no shadows found.

Wet and warming now, flowing creeks make lovely sound.

Presidents’ Day is a time to be bold –

grab hold of the sunrays, then retreat from the cold!”