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(NaturalNews) In the current economic situation with high fuel expenses and costs, American households have another worry to add to their increasing list of worries. The Farmers' Almanac is predicting below-average temperatures for the upcoming winter for most of the United States. This will create even higher heating expenses to add to other rising household expenses.

The publication (which is almost two hundred years old) claims an accuracy of 80 to 85 percent for such forecasts. The forecasts are prepared two years in advance.

The almanac's 2009 edition recently hit the bookshelves. It predicts that at least two-thirds of the U.S. can expect colder than average temperatures. Only the Far West and Southeast should expect near-normal temperatures.

A winter like this could mean economic catastrophe for millions of Americans. Frigid temperatures in combination with high fuel prices will make it very difficult for many households to stay warm.
The almanac is predicting above-average snowfall for the Great Lakes and Midwest regions -- especially during the months of January and February. Above-normal precipitation for the Southwest in December and for the Southeast in January and February is also predicted. The Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions should expect an unusually high amount of rain or snow during February warns the almanac.

The almanac's forecasts are delivered in three- and four-day periods for each region. They are prepared by the almanac's forecaster Caleb Weatherbee, who utilizes a well-guarded mathematical and astronomical formula based on sunspots, the position of the planets and the tidal action of the moon.

Weatherbee's outlook is created in part from e-mail comments that the almanac has received in recent days from readers who have noticed signs of nature that suggest a severe winter. These signs include an abundance of acorns already appearing on the ground as well as the frequency of fog occurring in August.

The almanac's winter forecast is disagreeing with the National Weather Service forecast, however. The latter's trends-based outlook is predicting warmer than normal temperatures over a lot of the U.S., including Alaska.

Twenty-one lawmakers recently sent a joint letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi petitioning for up to $9 billion in heating aid to be included in a new economic stimulus bill. They also requested up to $1 billion allocated for weatherization programs to assist homeowners in saving energy and money.

In the winter of 2008, Congress appropriated $2.57 billion for low-income home energy assistance. Home heating oil prices are already over $4 a gallon. This means that many households will be paying between $3,000 and $4,000 to heat their homes this winter.

Unfortunately, all of these factors will contribute to growing economic insecurity and instability and will likely result in reduced ability to pay for heat. This will be particularly true among low and low-to-moderate-income households.

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