October 17, 2003|By Frank D. Roylance | Frank D. Roylance,SUN STAFF
The Old Farmer's chief competitor in Maryland - the red-and-white Hagers-town Town and Country Almanack - makes its "conjectures" based on sunspots. And, lacking satellites and ocean bouys, it gathers added forecast data by asking readers to send in woolly bear caterpillars. "My office is swamped with woolly bears," said Gerald W. Spessard, business manager and one-third of the almanac's staff.
Last year's edition mostly missed the big February snowstorm and the persistent cold and wet winter weather. But it did hint that "one or more multi-foot storms could cause the final figure to far exceed this prediction."
The almanac's forecast this year, for the region within 50 miles of Hagerstown, is grim: 20 storms; 70 inches of snow; 90 percent of the days dipping below freezing. "We just think it's going to be a bad winter, right from the start to the bitter end," Spessard said.
The woolly bears are more optimistic. Their color bands aren't all tabulated yet, but Spessard said they are hinting at a mild start to the winter, and a "somewhat harsh" ending.
So who's right?
"The nice thing about the weather," said AccuWeather's Rayno, "is that by the end of the year you can grade yourself."
Tear here. Affix to refrigerator.
