Will New England's Winter Be a Snow Bust or a Snow Bomb?

I've been struggling to try and figure out the upcoming winter season and what to expect.

Not that it really matters, since there is not a whole I can do about it one way or the other. I'd just like to know.

New England winters can be epic, or they can be duds, depending upon where in New England you live.

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I've been inspecting the coats of caterpillars, counting acorns, and checking the travel plans of the geese and ducks in search of clues. So far, nothing definitive.

It is almost a given that the folks in western, central, and northern New England will have plenty of snow for Santa and skiing as the season unfolds – but what about right here along the SouthCoast?

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It's tough to nail down with any certainty what the weather will be like right near the ocean. Quite often, while Taunton and Worcester are getting hammered with snow, warm air off the water can result in a rain event right here along the coast.

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Recent winters in our region have been milder – unless, of course, you count the endless winter of 2015. I still have nightmares about that one.

As a kid, I recall New Bedford Harbor would freeze solid in January and February. That doesn't happen much anymore.

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The folks at MassLive.com have been wondering about the same things and have gathered together a collection of five long-range forecasts. Let me warn you, there is not a whole lot of consistency there.

So where do you go for clues as to what the pending winter season holds in store? Why, The Farmer's Almanac, of course. And I don't mean the legendary weather forecast edition but rather the deep science of it all.

The Farmer's Almanac actually has a list of "20 Signs of a Hard Winter Ahead." Take a look and keep a checklist. Some of the so-called signs are mighty interesting.

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