Tompkins Saskatchewan.

The winter forecast has been completed for a 200 mile radius surrounding Tompkins Saskatchewan, using the traditional practice of spleen reading.

The forecast is based on the examination of dozens of pig spleens collected from area farms, which included specimens from the Earview Colony, Wagman Farm, Clint Cobler, Stu Christenson and Dustin Sletten.

Thanks to all the spleen suppliers!

This year‘s analysis proved unusually challenging, due to significant variability among the spleens.

However, one specimen stood out, because of its size, and the presence of two clearly defined rows of fat.

To conduct the forecast, the spleen is divided into six equal sections representing the months from January through June.

These divisions are determined by the beginning and the end points of fat, along the length of the spleen.

Fat is considered an important indicator.

One band of fat represents the temperature, and how it will deviate from normal.

The other one represents precipitation.

The second represents deviation from normal Seasonal conditions.

The presence of two rows of fat, suggest repeated and pronounce departure, from typical weather patterns, indicating frequent, and significant temperature fluctuations.

Overall Winter Pattern

The forecast points to a winter characterized by volatility, with major changes occurring approximately every 10 days, to two weeks. Periods of relative warmth are expected to be followed by abruptly sharp cold snaps, resulting in little sustained seasonal consistency.

These changes will be accompanied by a lot of wind.

In general, the spleen remains unconvinced of seasonal norms, and you will need to dress for all seasons.

From January through March, overall temperatures are expended to trend warmer than historical norms.

However, this warmth is expected to be punctuated by extreme swings, including rapid transitions from approximately 5°C to -30°C.

Precipitation patterns are also expected to be highly irregular. Tissue texture and surface irregularities, observed in the spleen, suggest whether anomalies, including multiple rain events during the winter months.

There will be a good snowfall, but it won’t last, as the wind and the warm temperatures will cause it to sublimate and infiltrate.

Many precipitation events are indicated, as liquid rainfall rather than freezing rain or mixed precipitation.

The forecast incorporates the rain after fog rule, which holds that fog observed on a given date results in precipitation, possibly 90 days later. Detailed records of morning and evening fog were maintained through the fall, which was notably foggy. These records align closely with the spleen based indicators.

January 2026

January is expected to begin with mild conditions following a cold December. Temperatures are anticipated to be warm enough to raise questions about a typical normal Saskatchewan winter.

Fog record corresponds to weather changes and predicted precipitation between January 19 and 20th.

Based on temperature indications, this precepitation is expected to fall as rain but falling temperatures may cause a mix of rain and snow.

Toward the end of January, a short, but pronounced cold snap is expected to last approximately one week. This will be followed by a return to milder conditions as February approaches.

These oscillations are strongly indicated in the spleen structure.

February 2026

February is expected to begin with significant snowfall, potentially reaching blizzard conditions, following the mild conditions of January.

Fog corresponds to precipitation events near February 24, 25 and 27.

Late February is expected, therefore to be active, with precipitation, potentially falling in snow, rain, or a combination of both.

March 2026

Precipitation is expected on March 2 and also around March 10 and March 25.

After March 25, precipitation is expected to decline.

However, temperatures throughout March are forecast to remain highly unstable, with rapid shifts between unseasonably warm and sharply cold conditions.

These patterns differ substantially from typical March weather trends.

April 2026

Precipitation potential is indicated between April 1 and April 3.

More notably, the spleen indicates that the spring period from April through June will be colder than normal and unusually prolonged. Below average temperatures are expected to process well into, what would be normally considered warm weather.

An imperfection near the end of the spleen reinforces this interpretation, suggesting a delayed seasonal transition.

Even with the colder weather, early planting will pay off, taking advantage of early moisture.

The summer will be dry so the earlier the better…

May and June 2026

Cold conditions are expected to continue through May and June.

The forecast suggest that seasonal warming will be delayed, with summer conditions arriving later than expected, if at all.

An irregularity at the tail end of the spleen, suggest a significant late season event. Combined with prolonged cold conditions, this may include a late frost or another unusual occurrence, capable of catching residents unprepared.

June: An Unresolved Indicator

The most pronounced imperfection appears in the section corresponding to late June. Traditionally, spleen theory is applied exclusively to weather forecasting.

However, the severity of this irregularity is unusual.

While it may be ultimately insignificant. It’s prominent suggest a notable event occurring in late June.

Whether this manifest strictly as a weather related anomaly or, something broader, cannot be determined within the confines of splenomatic interpretation alone.

Methodological context

Weather forecasting through porcine analysis is rooted in centuries old, agricultural folklore.

With the warming of the environment, pigs can be come confused as to what the upcoming winter will be like.

All collected specimens were examined carefully, but one specimen presented a clearer interpretive narrative, than all the other others.

Implications for Residents

Residents within the forecast area, are advised to prepare for frequent and abrupt changes in conditions.

Readiness for both rain and snow throughout the winter as recommended and winter conditions may persist well into early summer.

This forecast describes a season in which unpredictability is its main dominant characteristics.

Confidence in this forecast is a little unclear, but persistent, and the spleen forecast is subject to change due to decomposition and better interpretation.

But the analysis is is expected to be repeated next fall using new specimens and the same methodology.

Current specimens will be disposed of due to sanitary conditions.

Forecast presented by Jeff Woodward PSP