20 Signs of a Hard Winter (Part 1)
Once the Farmers’ Almanac comes out with its winter predictions then our attention turns to the numerous signs of nature to see if she agrees. There are many signs of a hard winter but here are some of the most common ones. I will do half today and the remainder tomorrow. I have already heard form several folks about what they are seeing. Here goes:
1. Thicker than normal corn husks
2. Woodpeckers sharing a tree
3. Early arrival of the Snowy Owl
4. Early departure of geese and ducks
Today is the 25th of August and I just saw two huge vee’s of migrating Canada geese here in the Central Coast area of California. There is a staging area around a year round live riparian area where they stop annually on their way north and south. Does this mean we will have an early winter since they normally migrate around late September and October? Barbara
5. Early migration of the Monarch butterfly
6. See how high the hornet’s nest, will tell how high the snow will rest
Scott who lives in Maine tells me the wasps nests are only 2 feet off the ground – mild?
7. Unusual abundance of acorns
Dolly who leave on the Maine coast shares that she can’t leave home without a helmet because the acorns are falling like missiles. Rough?
8. Thick hair on the nape of a cow’s neck.
9. Early arrival of crickets on the hearth
10. Raccoons with thick tails and bright bands
Have you observed any signs of nature? Tomorrow, I will share the last10 including the famous Wollybear Caterpillar.
Technorati Tags: crickets, racoons, woodpecker,corn husks, wollybear caterpillar, snowy owl, Farmers’ Almanac
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7 comments
I have noticed the horses starting to have a thicker coat than normal for this time of year. That usually happens the end of Oct, for the north central valley region of California. Hoping for rain and soon.
I live along the I5 coriddor in Kelso Washington. We had an unusually hot and dry summer. Does that mean that we will get a lot of snow snow this winter. Our weather on this side of the coast range is differant from the coast and the east side of the Cascades. I don’t see why you clump the far North into one zone as the weather is so differant between the coast range and the Cascade Mt range and Idaho.
I live in upper/lower Michigan in the snow belt. Last winter was a real bugger, worse in years. I don’t know what it means but this year the apple crop is real heavy on trees that seldom bear fruit. We have huge populations of Daddy Long Leg spiders, earwigs and crickets. what’s up?
Early Winter? Today is August 10, 2009. My pumpkins are turning orange, peaches/apples small and ripening. The lake behind me is a staging area for migrating ducks and geese. The birds have been flying in droves for days now. Are these signs of an early winter?
I’ve been noticing a lot of squirrels with really bushy tales lately, which I was told a sign of a really cold winter. Is that true? Also, we had an unseasonably mild and dry August and September here in Virginia – which is in stark contrast with what we normally see.
Is any one else having problems with gnats/fruit flies. I live in SW lower Michigan and am being invaded by them….does this have anything to do with the upcoming winter??
Have noted a large, early influx of large and small spiders….also early crickets on hearth…does 10 2 08 cpunt as early? Are these signs of eary? Harsh? winter I’m looking for snow!
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