I am no weatherman — meteorologist for the more-formal population among us — but here’s my prediction for this late fall and upcoming winter: three significant (more than 6 inches) snowfalls and two major ice storms.

Hush your mouth, you say. My prediction could prove valueless. But we are long overdue when it comes to ice storms and somewhat overdue for three major snowfalls.

Keith Hardt and the crews with Washington Electric Utilities are likely calling me a few names now that my prediction is out in public. I can’t blame them. After all, they are the ones who will have to come out in all that snow and/or ice to restore power. Well, that’s a part of their job like working on major holidays is a part of my job.

I hear it now. Many folks are saying I want lots of snow so I can eat lots of snow cream. Well, there is some truth to that. Actually, I have a gut feeling this late fall and upcoming winter are going to be brutal — or at least what eastern North Carolina folks consider brutal.

I’ve experienced a brutal winter. I was less than 10 years old when my immediate family visited my father’s immediate family in north-central Iowa. I saw icicles as big as a man’s leg hanging from a windmill. I recall snowdrifts at least 15 feet high.

During the first three months of 1996, I recall about 36 inches of snow falling in the Fredericksburg, Va., area. About every other weekend, it would snow — a lot. It seems that during those weekends in January, February and March, all the newspaper articles I wrote had to do with snow, people coping with snow and the city manager driving a snowplow into a ditch as he tried to help city crews clear city streets. The city manager was unhurt, and the snowplow was relatively undamaged.

I would prefer the heavy snow and ice storms to arrive on a Friday evening just as I arrive home for a weekend during which I do not have to work. I would prefer any power outages to occur anywhere except the 600 block of Plymouth Street. I would spend the weekend enjoying a big pot of stew, chili or soup — perhaps all three — and snow cream.

I’ve got all the ingredients I need for snow cream — except that second snow of the season. One never makes snow cream with the first snow of the season because it cleanses the air, and no one wants to eat dirty snow cream.

By about 11 a.m. that Monday, I’d like the streets to be safe enough so I can go to work.

Of course, I would want everyone else to be safe during such a weekend. Should the power go out on the 600 block of Plymouth Street, I’ll have some hot chocolate in a Thermos for the first crew that shows up to restore power in that area. No bribe, just an incentive.

So, bring it on winter. I am more than ready — I think.

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Mike Voss covers the city of Washington for the Washington Daily News. His toboggan, gloves and insulated socks are within arm’s reach at home and ready to be used.