If you believe the Old Farmer’s Almanac, the US could have a long and cold winter ahead in 2021-2022.
“This coming winter could well be one of the longest and coldest that we’ve seen in years,” says Janice Stillman, editor of The Old Farmer’s Almanac. For 230 years, the Almanac has been helping readers to prepare for winter’s worst with its 80 percent–accurate weather forecasts.
But that’s not the only bad weather news.
There’s going to be sticker shock when manufacturers, homeowners, and anyone that needs to access to heat in the dead of winter gets their heating bills this winter – some say Midwesterners could get pinched for a nearly 50% price hike, AP is reporting.
Nearly half the homes in the U.S. use natural gas for heat, and they could pay an average $746 this winter, 30% more than a year ago. Those in the Midwest could get particularly pinched, with bills up an estimated 49%, and this could be the most expensive winter for natural-gas heated homes since 2008-2009.
The second-most used heating source for homes is electricity, making up 41% of the country, and those households could see a more modest 6% increase to $1,268. Homes using heating oil, which make up 4% of the country, could see a 43% increase — more than $500 — to $1,734. The sharpest increases are likely for homes that use propane, which account for 5% of U.S. households.
More HERE.
