PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – The 208th edition of the Farmers’ Almanac is out and predicts a very wet winter for the Pittsburgh area.

The last few years have not been easy for farmers’ performance, so we view this report with due skepticism.

Last year the prediction was that the cold would return – and it didn’t happen.

This year’s theme focuses on the wet winter vortex.

The folks at Farmers’ Almanac are clear that the cold has not returned.

“Last year, everyone was in a bad place,” said Sandi Duncan, Philom and editor of the Farmers’ Almanac. “You know, we really thought the temperatures were going to drop. They didn’t drop. And in fact, last year’s winter was pretty warm overall across the country.”

Duncan says El Niño should be blamed. But what does wet winter storm mean?

“That means it’s more likely to be wet than white,” Duncan said. “Unfortunately, our long-term forecast says it’s not.”

However, Duncan says there is good news for skiers as there could be some good and decent snowfalls in the mountains.

She says there is no early snow on the farmers’ horizon, but rather it looks like a stormy, wet Christmas.

The wet weather is expected to last until January.

“We say to watch for the end of January because that’s when we expect a lot of very active storm patterns that can bring a lot of snow, a lot of rain and a lot of wind,” Duncan said.

As for when spring weather will arrive, Duncan says it will probably not be until April.

“As we look ahead, we say next year’s summer will be quite warm again,” Duncan said. “So enjoy the cool while you can.”

The Pittsburgh area sits on the border between a colder Great Lakes winter and a warmer Northeast winter, so some of the wet weather could end up being white.