SULLIVAN COUNTY — For 226 years The Old Farmer's Almanac has been offering weather forecasts, and other “useful information, with a pleasant degree of humor.”

Well, if we are to believe this year's almanac, “The winter of 2018-2019 will be colder than normal in the southwestern part of the nation, but above-normal temperatures will be the rule elsewhere.

“Precipitation will be above normal in most of the country…

“Snowfall will be greater than normal in most of the Intermountain region, parts of the Southwest, and the nation's midsection, but below normal in most other areas that receive snow.”

So despite the early blast of winter which Sullivan County has received this week, it looks like this year might be, dare we say, “mild.”

The Old Farm­er's Almanac's prediction for December, “Shopping rush slowed by slush; we'll have to mush!

“A snow event may leave us wan, spent.

“Arctic blast is quickly past, so Santa's not despondent.

“Snowy and shivery for infant ‘19's delivery.”

In January, The Almanac said, “Grab a sled and head for the hills!

“Chillier: Swill your cocoa before it spills!

“Rain pelting down and snowmen are melting down!

“Flakes, flurries again, bring out those furries again!”

For February, The Almanac had a little bad news and some good news, namely, “Groundhogs blinded, more winter, we're reminded.

“Whiteout, then bright out!

“Snow on the offing, coats doffing.

“Mercury plummets, more flurries come; it's suddenly springlike!

“Who would guess a thing like this.”

And finally, our favorite month, March, will look like this, Mr. Almanac says, “Wintry reentry: sunny, but hard to feel cheery in (after some rain), it's Siberian!

“Snowstorm enormous to flurries diminishing;

“South winds will warm us, soft rains inform us that winter is finishing.”

We are only giving you the forecast, not guaranteeing it.