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Illinois to face a steamy, storm-laced summer, say both Farmers’ Almanacs<\/strong><\/p>\n As summer 2025<\/strong> draws closer, both the Farmers\u2019 Almanac<\/strong> and the Old Farmer\u2019s Almanac<\/strong> are forecasting a blazing, turbulent season<\/strong> for the Prairie State<\/strong>. While these publications often spark nostalgic trust among their readers, their predictions should be taken with cautious interest rather than scientific certainty.<\/p>\n According to the Farmers\u2019 Almanac<\/strong>, Illinois<\/strong> is in for a “sultry, thunder-filled”<\/strong> summer. Beginning June 20<\/strong>, the almanac anticipates the season will launch with stormy, unsettled weather<\/strong> across much of the U.S., eventually giving way to intensifying heat<\/strong> by July<\/strong>.<\/p>\n The forecast warns of severe thunderstorms<\/strong> that could potentially disrupt Fourth of July<\/strong> festivities, while offering a brief respite<\/strong> with fairer conditions<\/strong> around Labor Day (September 1)<\/strong>. The overall precipitation is expected to stay near average, though intense summer storms could still pack a punch locally.<\/p>\n The Farmers\u2019 Almanac<\/strong>, in publication since 1818<\/strong>, bases its predictions on what it calls a \u201cmathematical and astronomical formula\u201d<\/strong>, factoring in sunspot activity<\/strong>, lunar tides<\/strong>, and planetary positions<\/strong>\u2014explicitly rejecting modern satellite data and weather folklore (or groundhogs<\/strong>, for that matter). Despite bold claims of 80\u201385% accuracy<\/strong>, their methodology is not scientifically verified.<\/p>\n The Old Farmer\u2019s Almanac<\/strong>, founded in 1792<\/strong>, also projects a very hot summer nationwide<\/strong>, describing it as possibly another scorcher on par with last year<\/strong>. While much of the U.S.<\/strong> is expected to face hot, dry conditions<\/strong>, Illinois<\/strong> is an exception. The almanac forecasts \u201chot, rainy\u201d<\/strong> weather across most of the state, driven by above-normal precipitation patterns<\/strong> typical south of the Great Lakes<\/strong>.<\/p>\n The Old Farmer\u2019s Almanac leans more heavily on solar science, climatology, and meteorology<\/strong> to craft its seasonal guidance and also touts an 80% accuracy rate<\/strong>. However, a University of Illinois study<\/strong> from 2010<\/strong>, referenced by Popular Mechanics in 2022<\/strong>, found that its accuracy hovered around 52%<\/strong>, which is no better than a coin flip<\/strong>.<\/p>\n The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)<\/strong> offers a more scientifically grounded summer forecast<\/strong>. Its Climate Prediction Center<\/strong> anticipates that temperatures in Illinois<\/strong> are likely to trend above average<\/strong> through June, July, and August<\/strong>. However, when it comes to rainfall<\/strong>, NOAA says there are equal chances<\/strong> of it being above or below normal<\/strong>, suggesting no clear signal<\/strong> on precipitation levels at this stage.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Illinois to face a steamy, storm-laced summer, say both Farmers’ Almanacs As summer 2025 draws closer, both the Farmers\u2019 Almanac and the Old Farmer\u2019s Almanac are forecasting a blazing, turbulent season for the Prairie State. While these publications often spark nostalgic trust among their readers, their predictions should be taken with cautious interest rather than […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":2359,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2358","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n<\/h3>\n
Farmers\u2019 Almanac: Stormy skies and sweltering heat<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Old Farmer\u2019s Almanac: Hot and rainy for Illinois<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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NOAA weighs in: Hotter than average, but uncertain rain outlook<\/strong><\/h3>\n