“The heat is on” for a “doozy” of a summer in Peoria.
So say the rival farmer almanacs, both of which predict a searing season in central Illinois. Here’s what to expect:
The Farmers’ Almanac summer weather prediction for Peoria
Commencing June 20, when summer officially begins, “The heat is on!” says the Farmers’ Almanac. The farmers foresee a “sultry, thunder-filled” season for Peoria and the entirety of Illinois, where severe storms may threaten the Fourth of July holiday, while fair weather is predicted for Labor Day, Sept. 1.
The Farmers’ Almanac, which dates to 1818, says its long-range forecast is based on a “mathematical and astronomical” formula that incorporates “sunspot activity, tidal action of the Moon, positions of the planets” and more. It denies the use of computer satellite tracking equipment, weather lore or, rather defensively, groundhogs.
It adds, “Fans of the Almanac say our weather forecasts are accurate 80-85% of the time.”
The Old Farmer’s Almanac summer weather prediction for Peoria
Meanwhile, summer 2025 is “shaping up to be a doozy!” says the rival Old Farmer’s Almanac. Its forecast for June, July and August calls for “a scorcher of a summer.”
The farmer places Peoria near the border of two weather regions. To the east, he foresees a “hot, rainy” summer, while to the west a “hot, dry” season is predicted.
The Old Farmer’s Almanac claims 80% accuracy in its long-range predictions. It says it employs solar science, climatology and meteorology in its seasonal forecasts. The almanac dates to 1792.
Are the almanacs accurate?
Neither of the almanacs is considered especially accurate, but both remain popular.
Scientific American casts doubt on both publications’ predictions.
And a University of Illinois study conducted in 2010, cited by Popular Mechanics in 2022, found the Old Farmer’s Almanac only about 52% accurate — “essentially random chance.”
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Here’s what two popular almanacs predict for summer 2025 weather in Peoria, Illinois
Reporting by Dean Muellerleile, Peoria Journal Star / Journal Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
