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Re: UPDATED CFS WINTER OUTLOOK!
These maps are monthly 500mb charts....
Do the signs point to harsh winter?
Winter is coming – “weather” we like it or not. Farmers’ Almanac says “Frigid especially in the middle of the country.” But what does nature say?
Some of our web visitors have reported noticing the following:
Black Wooly Worms (caterpillars) in VA and WV
Lore:
Weather folklorists believe the more black hairs a woolly worm has, the worse the winter will be. If the caterpillar has more orange, then the winter will be mild. One must keep in mind that a woolly worm caterpillar should have both and not just one, so this might not be an official wooly worm.
High spider webs
Lore: Spiders spinning larger than usual webs are supposed to be a sign of a harsh winter. (We couldn’t find anything about higher webs.)
Many dense morning fogs early this year.
Lore: Count the number of fogs in August and that will tell you how many snowstorms to expect this winter.
Cherry blossom trees dropping leaves early in Maryland. Pine Trees Seem VERY Bushy, Thick.
Lore: We couldn’t find any about the cherry blossom or pine trees, but you could surmise that these trees are preparing for a harsh winter.
Summer Has Been Cool Overall.
Lore: We did find one weather lore saying that a hot winter precedes a cold winter …hmmm
Right now from what we have seen via comments from our web visitors, nature seems to be agreeing with the Farmers’ Almanac outlook: a cold winter is on tap.
Have you noticed any cues from nature? Now is the time to start looking. We haven’t heard much about persimmon seeds. (According to weather folklore, persimmon seeds can be used to predict the severity of winter weather. When cut into two pieces, the persimmon seed will display one of three symbols. A knife shape indicates a cold icy winter (where wind will cut through you like a knife). A fork shape means a mild winter. A spoon shape stands for a shovel to dig out of the snow.) Read about other signs that are supposed to foretell of a rough winter.
What have you been observing? Share them with us.
