Farmers' Almanac: MD Summer Forecast For 2019

MARYLAND — Hope you like the rain, because Maryland is in for a soggy summer, according to the Farmers’ Almanac. The almanac, which has been issuing forecasts since 1818, recently released its summer 2019 outlook for the United States.

The Farmers' Almanac is predicting a muggy and wet summer with above-average precipitation for areas east of the Mississippi River, including Maryland.

During July and August, the forecast for Maryland calls for "lots of rain, thunderstorms and wetness," according to Farmers' Almanac Editor Pete Geiger.

Temperatures will be slightly lower than usual during July and August, the almanac predicts. More clouds and showers will likely keep temperatures below the dozen or so expected 90-degree days that could otherwise be in store, according to Geiger. That being said, residents in these areas should count on days with temperatures well into the 80s.

“Add to that the above-normal precipitation, and you’ve got oppressively humid and uncomfortable conditions,” he said.

The South will also see oppressive humidity in July, the almanac said, coupled with frequent thunderstorms from the Carolinas down to Georgia. The Southeast will bear the brunt of the hurricane season, with the almanac predicting a tropical disturbance in mid to late- May, even though the season doesn’t begin until June. A tropical storm could then threaten the region in mid-June, mid-September and mid-October.

Elsewhere, states in the north-central and south-central U.S., from North Dakota to Texas, should expect to see “dangerous weather” in late June, the almanac said. This includes thunderstorms capable of producing large hail, damaging winds and “devastating” tornadoes.

The Great Lakes, Ohio Valley and Midwest will see heat and humidity in June followed by storms and warm temperatures in July. Less rain was expected west of the Mississippi River, but summer storms — with potentially dangerous hail — were also forecast for the region overall, with severe weather possible in late July.

Lastly, the Pacific Northwest was projected to see pleasant and fair temperatures through August, but an atypically dry summer despite early rains.

The Farmers’ Almanac has been published annually for more than 200 years, offering long-term weather predictions for the U.S. and Canada. It also contains information on gardening, cooking, home remedies and more. It distributes about 1.7 million copies a year.

It is not to be confused with the Old Farmer’s Almanac, which was founded in 1792, and calls for a similar forecast for Maryland. "Summer will be rainier and cooler than normal, with the hottest periods in late June, early July, and early to mid-August," the Old Farmer's Almanac said in its summer forecast, which went on to say that September and October will be warmer and drier than usual.

Both the new and old almanacs claim to have accuracy rates of about 80 percent, and the sun factors into both predictions. The new uses a formula that takes into consideration things like sunspot activity, the moon’s tidal action and the position of other planets. The old uses sunspot activity as well, in addition to climatology and meteorology.

Patch national staffer Dan Hampton contributed to this report.