WEATHER ALERT! READY FOR ALL THAT’S AHEAD?

By SHAGORIKA EASWAR

Last February (or was it early March?) a friend commented on the unusually balmy week we were enjoying.

“Well, The Old Farmer’s Almanac is calling for a last burst of winter before spring gets here,” I said.

Sure enough, we were walloped by a major winter storm that dumped everything it had on us.

“I couldn’t believe where you were getting your weather forecast from, but they got it right!” he e-mailed a few days later.

I was raised on folk tales and old songs and sayings that contain nuggets of wisdom about everything including the weather. The ripening of certain fruits, or the behaviour of some animals, were a predictor of rain – if a peacock dances, it’s going to rain, being a well-known one. I remember asking my grandmother where was one to see peacocks dancing in a busy city. She smiled and said we can benefit from the wisdom of others, we don’t necessarily have to see or experience everything ourselves. And added that even if dancing peacocks were thin on the ground, if I learned to listen, frogs and crickets might have a message for me too.

Long dismissed as happy coincidences with no basis in science, we are now learning that native knowledge came from a deep understanding of the environment, a connection that we lost as we adopted urban lifestyles.

But if you were to google weather predictions in ancient India, a whole slate of articles shows up.

In Weather Forecast in Vedic Times, I read that “Vedic Indians observed the impact of stars, planets and physical bodies on weather on Earth with great care. They were very cautious of their responsibility to keep life flourishing for all living beings without damaging or polluting Mother Earth.

“They maintained ‘yad pinde tad brahmande’ which means whatever is contained in the individual physical body is also contained in the universe and therefore the physical world is composed of five elements akasha, vayu, agni, apah and prithvi. Vedic seers meticulously studied each of these elements and analysed how they were interconnected.

“Ancient Indians developed various detailed methods to explore the meteorological conditions around them... they observed the formation of clouds, electrical charge, thunderstorms and precipitation. Halos and rainbows were considered tools for weather predictions. Some creatures were thought to be more sensitive and to have the power of weather premonition and ancient seers observed the behaviour of cows, birds, dogs or reptiles.”

On moving to Canada, I learnt to see nature in our little suburban universe with new eyes, guided by my neighbour and dear friend Dorothy.

If the crabapple had more fruit than usual, it meant a long winter – the tree was providing for the creatures. Related to this was her pointer on squirrels. The earlier they began to, well, squirrel stuff away, the sooner winter would be upon us.

If the pinecones were closed, it was going to rain.

On The Dyrt, you will find Emily Gallegos say pretty much the same thing in 13 Old-Fashioned Ways to Predict the Weather.

“Pinecones are another one of nature’s clues to predict the weather. Pinecones are nature’s hygrometers, exhibiting the surrounding air’s humidity levels.

“Pinecones open their scales when it’s dry in order for wind to carry them and scatter their seeds.

“When there is moisture in the air however, they seal their seeds until it’s dry outside again.

“Because they travel by wind, they have to wait until their seeds are dry and light enough for distant travel. If the pinecones are closed, bring your rain gear.”

Thus I picked up my first copy of The Old Farmer’s Almanac some three decades ago, eager to discover Native Canadian ways of weather forecasting. And I learnt that while it has been published every year since 1792, making it the oldest continuously published periodical in North America – the Canadian edition was first published in 1982 – they actually rely on hard science to make their predictions.

“We derive our weather forecasts from a secret formula that was devised by the founder of the almanac, Robert B Thomas in 1792. Thomas believed that weather on earth was influenced by sunspots, which are magnetic storms on the surface of the sun.

“Over the years, we have refined and enhanced this formula with state-of-the-art technology and modern scientific calculations.”

The Old Farmer’s Almanac employs three scientific disciplines to make their long-range predictions – solar science, climatology, and meteorology.

And achieves a remarkable 80 per cent accuracy, continuing to be popular with 2.5 million copies distributed each year.

So, what’s in store for us this winter and beyond?

The Canadian edition is forecasting a winter with a “heart of cold” for 2024–2025.

“‘Temperate’ is on tap for most of the country this winter, but let it snow in Ontario!,” proclaims Carol Connare, the Almanac’s editor. “A winter of big freezes and heavy snowfall will be centered in Ontario and eastern Manitoba, while most of the rest of the country will get a reprieve from snow-shovelling and super-cold temperatures.”

So not right away, but soon enough, we will be in one of those quintessential winters that some (and believe it or not, there are quite a few) lament the loss of. Cries of “Cold enough for ya?” or, “Did you order this?” will echo across the quiet that envelops us when everything is under a duvet of snow. And as we stop to take a breather while shovelling, a friendly neighbour will trundle down the pathway with his snowblower, brushing off our thanks.

In other parts of Canada, while Saskatchewan will be (mostly) spared the mountains of snow arriving to the east, the area should brace for below-average temperatures, as should southern sections of British Columbia and Alberta. The most southerly portions of Alberta and Saskatchewan will also be all wet this winter, with a few snowstorms interspersed with other types of precipitation.

The summer of 2025 will usher in a rainy season for much of Canada. In fact, northern parts of British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan, as well as southern Ontario, will experience a “gardener’s summer” with balmy temperatures and lots of moisture – which will mean little watering and great growing!

There’s more! The 2025 Old Farmer’s Almanac Canadian edition also explores how tomatoes (once dismissed as “odious and repelling-smelling berries” by The Horticulturalist) became North America’s favourite vegetable, the surprising Canadian history of America’s favourite pastime, why incidences of “white dragons” (aka avalanches) are on the rise, and how caring Canadian keepers are helping endangered cow breeds make a comeback.

In addition, the Almanac looks into whether Earth is on a collision course with the collection of space rubble known as Bennu.

The section titled Anecdotes and Pleasantries features a sampling of letters, clippings, articles and emails sent by the “Almanac family” from the US and Canada.

To wit:

“Before running away after having been pulled over for doing 52 in a 30 mph zone, a DUI Colorado driver tried to switch places with his dog. According to a later report, the dog did not face any charges and was let go with a warning.”

Among other fun and informative topics covered:

• Trick a garden located anywhere into growing (almost) anything.

• Garden by the cycles of the Moon.

• Explore the history and grandeur of the Boundary Waters between Canada and the US by canoe.

• Understand and interpret the curious behaviours of cats. Find out what’s behind your tabby’s blepping, kneading, and hiding – not to mention catnip craziness.

• Find health and happiness in a cup of tea.

• Give the perfect hug (or just replicate its feeling and benefits).

 Also featuring astronomical tables, tides, holidays, eclipses, etc., it lives up to the founder’s vision: “Useful, with a pleasant degree of humour.”

They also publish a series of best-selling, timeless gardening titles, such as the Container Gardener’s Handbook, Flower Gardener’s Handbook, and Vegetable Gardener’s Handbook.

Daily Almanac’s wit and wisdom are available through Almanac.ca, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, TikTok, and the Amazon Echo voice assistants.

THE GREAT WHITE FROZEN NORTH

There’s a scene in The Instigators (Apple TV) in which Matt Damon and Casey Affleck are planning an escape to Montreal after a heist gone horribly wrong. Damon wants to know why they would be safe there and Affleck says, “It’s Canada”.

Damon’s character is not too convinced.

“It’s negative 50 there and 20 feet of snow and you need huskies!”

Just a reminder – in case you needed one – of what’s coming our way in a couple of months! The great white frozen north.