From: http://www.finegardening.com/item/24798/how-do-they-create-the-farmers-almanac
QuoteDuncan: The Farmers' Almanac predictions are based on a very specific and reliable formula that remains secret to all but a few select Almanac associates. It is based on a formulate that dates back to 1818 that looks at tides, astronomical events, and sun spots. It also closely monitors the changing distance of the Moon relative to Earth, as well certain lunar cycles. And lastly, we follow a list of rules (the first editor of the Farmers' Almanac, David Young called them his "weather canon") which specifies certain weather patterns based on natural cycles. That canon might be regarded as our famous and closely guarded "secret formula" that dates back for nearly 200-years; we believe that, augmented with our more recent studies of solar activity and lunar cycles, we have been able to refine and improve our forecasts.
Thought some of You might be curious about this...
Secret Source Revealed
(http://www.ufos-aliens.co.uk/abduction.jpeg)
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LOL! z, You have a weird sense of humor. I LOVE it!
On a related note, will we see an increase in the incidence of blizzards now that the weather channel has decided to start naming them? We have an A name on here. We have a Z namme on here. That's a lot of names to get through. I'm assumming, of course that Amaterssu and Zorgon will be on the name list.
Shasta
I would better have My name used for a gentle spring rain if temperament were the measure in naming things.
Yes, many years They don't get through the alphabet.
Ahhh thanks for that Link Amy ;)
Having seen that Almanac come up in a few odd places on the web and also reading people saying that it was right is very interesting in itself, but also seeing that they don't use data as modern folke would usually predict from is also interesting.
Anyway thanks also for another gardening site to check out :D
Most welcome, Soma. I had always wondered what elements They used, and finding that gave Me a better idea. Glad Others have interest in the general (if not specific) methodology.
As i was typing that i was wondering how much they use modern data. They make mention of variations but from i gathered from that article it would seem that even Nasa's ( ooo i know that name LOL) would come in handy.
But heck they were viewing sunspots back ALL that Time ago coming up with long range forecast's..truly amazing :D