Accuweather inaccurate?

Last month, accuweather meteorologist Joe Bastardi was predicting another cold winter for our area. He has since done a total 180, and is now forecasting a milder than normal winter. I'm feeling much more optimistic about some of my marginals. After such a brutal summer, we all deserve a break this winter!

The Climate Prediction Center did an about face as well .. when I checked in early September they were calling for a warmer and dryer than usual Fall which they got right and colder and wetter winter than normal. Now they are saying were going to have a warm and dry winter.

http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/predictions/long_range/seasonal.php?lead=1

The top map is temperature and the bottom precipitation .. just click on them to get a larger view.

This message was edited Oct 22, 2010 1:19 PM

Weather forecasting is an exact science. They miss a high percentage of the time on 36 forecasts. Long range they don't do much better than the Old Farmers Almanac. I have this big black rock in my yard. When its wet, I know its raining, when it casts a shadow I know its sunny, no shadow its cloudy or night, When it moves , high winds. Very accurate.

Lol

35 degrees this morning with light frost on my roof!

All I can say is I hope the about face(s) are right. We could use a milder winter after the last one. That was brutal.

I was looking back and most of us had already moved stuff in last year this time. First frosts were Oct 19-20th of 2009 according to the thread below. So at least we're getting a warm fall so far.
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1048849/

This message was edited Oct 24, 2010 3:45 PM

Funny, I was looking at that exact same thread a while ago.

This whole weather year has been really weird.

I have yet to move everything in the house and with the nippy mornings we had last week have to say I'm impressed the curcuma, gingers, hibiscus etc are showing no worse for wear...yet....I'm still going to mulch over everything with oat/wheat straw...that way I know it will cause the weather to stay warmer LOL

Warmer and drier, eh? I'm not sure my soil can get much drier.....

As for the cold, I will report that I actually lost all my Gaillardia last winter....the one's that I had moved from my Mother's 8000 foot elevation Rocky Mountain garden four years ago. They survived her arid soil, rocks and cold, a cross-country airline trip crammed in my bags and, replanting in a raised bed and, to their credit, did grow beautifully here. Right up until last winter, when, apparently, our "cold" winter got them!! They didn't even reseed. Mom still laughing about this.....she's a Gaillardia hater!! Pulls 'em up like weeds!

Yotedog, (BTW how did you come up with that name?), isn't it strange how so many people who can grow gailardia hate them while those of us who think we would love to grow them hit zero tolerance for what seem like more favorable growing conditions. My daughter runs a loosing battle trying to eradicate them--then she gives me a big bunch--problem solved--they immediately die!!