Got any winter forecast wives tales?

[sixdogs]

Does anyone have any weather forecasting secrets that might clue us in on temps, snowfall and overall winter severity? Here's a list of winter forecasting wives tales I found. Surely we can add to these.

16 Old Wives’ Tales Predict Winter Weather

People have been using signs from nature to forecast the weather since the beginning of time. Here are some interesting methods using everything from pig spleens to walnut shells.

www.agriculture.com

 

[JeepHead]

I cut open a few of my persimmon tree seeds this fall and they showed spoons.

 

[sixdogs]

I cut open a few of my persimmon tree seeds this fall and they showed spoons.

That's heavy and wet snow...

 

[MossRoad]

Do anyone have any weather forecasting secrets that might clue us in on temps, snowfall and overall winter severity? Here's a list of winter forecasting wives tales I found. Surely we can add to these.

16 Old Wives’ Tales Predict Winter Weather

People have been using signs from nature to forecast the weather since the beginning of time. Here are some interesting methods using everything from pig spleens to walnut shells.

www.agriculture.com

That's the problem with folks predicting future weather patterns based on plant/animal characteristics that were in all likelihood caused by PAST weather.

On that note, I'm not seeing as many wooly bears this year as normal. I was picking strawberries two nights ago, November 19 in northern Indiana. And we and our friends have all had Lilacs bloom in October and November this year. Snap dragons are in full bloom. Giant reed grass hit 22' this year. Seed heads are over 2'. (all that indicates drought over the summer, but hey, we can start rumors)

(click to enlarge)

 

[sixdogs]

That's the problem with folks predicting future weather patterns based on plant/animal characteristics that were in all likelihood caused by PAST weather.

On that note, I'm not seeing as many wooly bears this year as normal. I was picking strawberries two nights ago, November 19 in northern Indiana. And we and our friends have all had Lilacs bloom in October and November this year. Snap dragons are in full bloom. Giant reed grass hit 22' this year. Seed heads are over 2'. (all that indicates drought over the summer, but hey, we can start rumors)

(click to enlarge)

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I've seen things bloom last like that and can't recall any correlation to winter severity. I've never seen strawberries in the fall or giant grass as tall as yours.

This year around here we've had a serious drought and oak leaves fell in October rather than December. Everything hurried up so plants could retain moisture.

 

[MossRoad]

I've seen things bloom last like that and can't recall any correlation to winter severity. I've never seen strawberries in the fall or giant grass as tall as yours.

This year around here we've had a serious drought and oak leaves fell in October rather than December. Everything hurried up so plants could retain moisture.

That reminds me... 90% of our oak leaves are down now. They usually last well into the new year, if not spring.

 

[oosik]

I'll just go with the National Weather service. Like about 95 to 100% of the time any severe weather goes around me here. Usually to the south. Example - this "climate bomb" that the PNW is experiencing. If you look at their weather map - where I live is a large "hole" in their map.

I have wind - 0 to 5 mph. Snow - zero. Rain - 0.16 inches total All in the last 48 hours.

 

[otlski]

If you buy a side by side with a heated cab and a plow, you will have a mild winter. This works better than all of them.

 

[FullMetalBucket]

I hear people say “there’s more acorns this years, gonna be a bad one”

 

[Racer4]

I hear people say “there’s more acorns this years, gonna be a bad one”

Last couple of years our big oak tree dumped acorns, mild winters. This year not many, so we’ll see.

Here’s one:

The more black on a woolly worm the more severe the winter.

Same thing though, I saw some all black ones the last few years, again mild winters. Saw an all black one 2 days ago when I was blowing leaves.

 

[mikester]

Last year was a bumper crop for apples. This year many trees were fruitless.

It means we are in for a mild winter like last year. Still haven't seen snow and it's Nov 22!

 

[Duds13]

With "climate change" there's no such thing as winter....

 

[bdhsfz6]

I don't know about the "old wives", but the so called experts predicted a very mild Winter here with a season total of 9 to 18 inches of snow. We are currently in the middle of a snowstorm with 10 inches on the ground and more to come. So much for the experts.

The old wives predictions would likely be more accurate.

I did see an all black Wooly Bear caterpillar last week. Maybe we should go with that prediction.

Woolly Bear Caterpillar - Winter Predictor Or Not?

 

[MossRoad]

Last year was a bumper crop for apples. This year many trees were fruitless.

It means we are in for a mild winter like last year. Still haven't seen snow and it's Nov 22!

Our tress were fruitless due to mild winter which allowed early budding, followed by late killing frost/freeze. I have no idea what next year will bring.

 

[dodge man]

That reminds me... 90% of our oak leaves are down now. They usually last well into the new year, if not spring.

I hear people say “there’s more acorns this years, gonna be a bad one”

We have more acorns and hickory nuts this year. Also the oak leaves are mostly down but that could be the howling winds we’ve had the last three days.

 

[John0829]

All our oak leaves are down and the acorn crop is significantly smaller this year than the last two but it seems like a larger amount of pine needles. Don't know what it means for winter but I am glad to be finally DONE with leaves and needles for this year.

 

[MossRoad]

I hope everyone gets a laugh out of this....