How accurate is the old farmer's almanac weather forecasts.

[RED]

The answer is, not very accurate but about the same as NOAA and the scientists.

When it comes to the Southeast, AccuWeather and the Almanac disagree with each other. Rather than a warm winter, the Almanac predicts the area will experience an "unseasonable chill," with more precipitation than normal. In other words, even the South might end up cold, wet, and presumably miserable this winter — we'll have to wait and see.

http://time.com/4001563/old-farmers-almanac-predictions-accuracy/

https://weather.com/storms/winter/news/2017-10-19-winter-outlook-noaa-2017-2018

https://www.bustle.com/p/how-cold-is-winter-going-to-be-in-2017-experts-say-you-better-bundle-up-2812079

Remember here we are talking about 4 to 8 weeks from now. At the same time there are people that tell us they know the exact weather forecast for the next 40 to 80 years from now. Christmas day in St Louis in 2057 will be 80 degrees F. and the Arch will be standing in water.

[aintright]

I figure anything that has to do with a prediction is pretty much a crap shoot . Like plans , it is all subject to change . I used to follow the almanac for garden planting as I was taught , but have seen others with no regaurd for it do just as good .
Kenneth

[Allen]

When I was much younger the area I live in was farming country. Most everyone had a farm and planted. You could go outside most any day and hear the putt-putt-putt of the old Johnny poppers (John Deere 2 cylinder diesels). The other tractors were much quieter and not so much noticed. Needless to say, I've known a lot of farmers. They all planted and harvested by the farmer's almanac. As far as weather forecast go the TV stations just gave a clear and sunny 3 day forecast. The very next morning they said no, we're going to have rain. NOAA predicted about 1.3". A lot of rain but not too bad. We ended up with about 5" with much flooding and road closers. This is what I woke up to this morning.

If you want to know what the weather is like stick your head out the window and look---it is far more than they do.

As far as predictions go there's a lot of people on the payroll who just make guesses.

I still have faith in the old Farmer's Almanac.

[dave]

It is an imperfect science, thats for sure. Was talking to a retired Navy guy to-day about the weather forecast. I mentioned the Brit. forecaster who predicted, 'A break in the weather for June 6th, lasting for about 24hrs.', had the biggest b*lls of anyone I've ever heard of!. Imagine having said that and being wrong!

[PWC]

In the 70s, in and around Hampton VA, Joe Folks was the tv weatherman and when he said rain early afternoon it rained between 1 and 3. Late afternoon, it rained between 3 and 6. Once predicted thunderstorms with tornados. It did, 6" in my back yard, and Piquoson (near Langley AFB had a tornado. Most accurate weatherman I have seen. Everyone listend ehen Joe talked.

[Robert Scott]

Good old Joe Foulkes. We talk about him at work ever so often. He was truly amazing as a weatherman. This guy knew weather like nobody else. My dad used to laugh so hard when he put his marker back in his shirt pocket and it would bleed through over the next couple of minutes.

http://articles.dailypress.com/1993-08-26/news/9308260060_1_forecasts-weather-reports-national-weather-service