Over the weekend one national network news reported on the rather dull foliage colors this year. Before it was over global warming was ending all future colors as we know it. Maybe? I’ll be the first to admit that we had a “disappointing” foliage in New England but I blame the drier conditions and lack of a sustained cold spell. We stick have an array of colors but compared the the best years…. it just isn’t. It has dipped into the 30s and there has been snow in the mountains. But, for the vibrant colors we need two things. The first is plenty of rain during the summer and the other is cold.

Colors come out when the chlorophyll that provides the green (the dominant color) all summer starts to break down. This happens when we have shorter days and cooler nights which tells the trees to shut off the flow of nutrients to their leaves. We have not had the usual cold night temperatures to make this happen and in some cases the leaves are dropping with changing color.

We have a foliage guide in the 2008 Farmers’ Almanac - best viewing times for all regions of the country. If you have a photo of your foliage, send it along. While it has been less vibrant , there is still some good viewing.

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by pgeiger
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The country is in a buzz about the National Weather Service’s winter weather prediction. I have had a few messages on what now.

Hello– Considering today’s National Weather Service forecast calling for warm conditions in the Northeast this winter, are you still standing by your forecast calling for just the opposite? Hope so, as we are snow enthusiasts here in northern Vermont. Ron

Hi Ron: I don’t count on the National Weather Service (NWS) to make my predictions. If so, I’d just wait for them. So, I am with you in terms of wanting the snow and cold - I live in Maine. Bring it on.

Actually, our winter predictions are calling for Cold and snow East of the Mississippi River with the Great Lakes and New England getting the brunt of the snow. We believe it will be milder in the West. Caleb is a bit stubborn and hasn’t changed his or our mind about what is to come. We certainly call for snow in Colorado and the Rockies, but a good portion of the country (west of the Mississippi)will be mild according to the Farmers’ Almanac, but not everywhere and not by a long shot. While the NWS is confident about their day to day predictions, they have historically stated that they can’t go out more than 10 days with any confidence. So, I am not sure they can truly analyze an entire winter season. But, I give them credit for trying.

You can get 16 months of weather in the 2008 Farmers’ Almanac here and you can also check out our Farmers’ Almanac Winter Outlook here.

We renamed this month Pumpkintober. Check out our home page for all kinds of great pumpkin information including a Nova Scotia Giant Pumpkin Regatta broadcast on Farmers’ Almanac TV. Some people thought I was out of my gourd but it is an “earth friendly” way to enjoy nature. Plus, there is a competitive aspect of racing that I enjoy. I learned much from my Canadian experience. Click on the FATV video on the home page and picture yourself commandeering one of these decorated ships.

By the way, if you have a decorated pumpkin - painted or carved - send a photo along and we may put it on our site.

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by pgeiger
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Do you ever wonder how some people just instinctively know when it is going to rain. A few have had knee surgery or have arthritis that is so bad, it hurts before it rains. But there are other signs of rainy weather including:

* Curly hair kinks and phone cords bind

* Bees stay close to their hives

* Swallows fly close to the ground

* Birds stay perched on telephone wires

* Sound travels far and wide

* A cow scratches its ear

* Leaves show their backs

* Sheep collect and huddle

* Large halo around the moon

Put your observation skills to the test and you’ll be the neighborhood weather expert. One last rain indicator. For 20 years the Farmers’ Almanac has sold a unique weather prognosticator called the Maine Woodsman Weather Stick. It is made from Maine Balsam Fir and when mounted outside your home, will go up and down as the weather changes. It is an inexpensive stocking stuffer for Christmas or any time of the year. Go to our website and click on shop.

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by pgeiger
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Here is a common question this time of year. There is an old folklore about caterpillars. What does the coloring of a woolly bear mean? I have seen some where they are mostly brown. Does this mean a hard and snowy winter in the East?

Next to Punxsutawney Phil, the most famous weather prognosticators in the animal kingdom are the lowly caterpillars. Legend has it that the color and thickness of a caterpillar is a determinant of the upcoming winter. Here is how it goes:

The woolly bear caterpillar tells if it is a bad winter if there are a lot of them crawling around, if he has a heavy coat and if the black band on his back is wide. The more black than brown he is or the wider the black stripe, the worse the winter. A narrow orange band in the middle of the caterpillar warns of heavy snow. If this guy is fat and fuzzy, it means presage bitter cold.

If you want to be your own weather forecaster, he are 10 signs of a rough winter:

* Very thick onion skins or corn husks.

* Woodpeckers sharing a tree

* Early arrival of crickets on the hearth

* Spiders spinning larger webs

* Lots and lots of acorns

* Raccoons have thick tails

* Squirrels gather nuts early in the year

* Pigs gather sticks

* Frequent halos around the sun or moon

* Heavy and numerous fogs in August

There are many other things to observe. If you see any, pass them along.
woolyworm caterpillars rel=”tag”>woolyworm caterpillars

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Yesterday I mentioned the first frost in Colorado. But, why does frost occur at all? It happens when the temperature of the Earth’s surface falls below freezing. The freezing temperature ensures that water condenses on the surface and becomes ice.

There are several degrees of frost:

A light freeze is when temperatures are between 29 and 32 degrees (F). During a light freeze, tender plats may be killed, with little destruction to heartier vegetation.

A moderate freeze is when temps are between 25 and 28 degrees (F). During a moderate freeze, there can be wide destruction on most vegetation with heavy damage to fruit blossoms and semi-hardy plants.

A severe freeze is when the temps are 24 degrees (F) and colder (as was the case in Colorado) yesterday which causes heavy damage to most plants.

The trick to this in the early fall is that the temps, while they may drop, are usually at the low mark for an hour or so. And, the ground and plants can absorb and retain some warmth from the morning sun during the day. Water in pipes freeze when the temp remains at 24 (F) or colder for many hours and/ or days. If you live in New Orleans where the insulation in buildings is relatively nonexistent, folks will leave their taps dripping when they know the temp will drop below 32 degrees.

It may be warm and pleasant today but Fall and Winter temps are coming.

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by pgeiger
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According to weather lore, coffee supposedly can foretell what type of weather is in store for you. There is a belief that if the bubbles of coffee collect in the center of your cup, you can expect fair weather. If they adhere to the cup, forming a ring, you should expect rain. If they separate without assuming any fixed pattern, changeable weather should be on its way.

In my role as Editor of the Farmers’ Almanac, I have come across a lot of folklore and interesting suggestions on ways to predict the weather! This one I must say is one of the more interesting ones, but it’s worth a try (especially as an experiment with kids).

Next time you pour yourself a cup of coffee, look for bubbles. Then write down what you see and watch the weather. Let me know if you find this weather predicting formula to be accurate or not.

This weekend marks the beginning of Fall. Autumn officially starts early Sunday morning. Fall is a beautiful time of the year to head outdoors. We are predicting some cool, wet conditions for this season, but there will be some nice days in between.

If predicting the weather is too difficult (or you don’t drink coffee) be sure to consult September and October’s weather forecast here online for free. This year was also have a great story on why leaves change color in the Almanac, and a video that explains this natural phenomenon.

To find out when the best times are around the country for leaf viewing, see our new map. Drop me a line and tell me how the colors are in your neck of the woods.

Happy Autumn.

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by pgeiger
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I hope you had a safe and relaxing Labor Day Weekend. It was picture perfect in Maine. I was thinking of the best and worst places from the perspective of weather, so I went into past almanacs and found:

What is the safest weather town in the United States??

A survey was conducted a number of years ago that took into account the probability of a tornado or an earthquake. When the survey was completed, it was determined that the town of Crossroads, in southeast New Mexico is the “safest” in the nation.

Speaking of tornadoes - what city has been it by the most tornadoes?

According to the National Weather Service, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma has been hit with the most tornadoes. The exact number varies because city limits and tornado reporting practices have changed over the years. But it is agreed that the number of tornado hits is over 100.

If you want to experience a thunderstorm/ lightning strike, where should you go?

Again the National Weather Service indicates that the most thunderstorms and lightning strikes hit Central Florida each year.

Want a “bad hair day” then climb Mt. Washington in New Hampshire, it has the highest recorded wind speeds in the world - topping at 231 mph (372 kilometers). This occurred on April 12, 1934. This record has stood for over 73 years and has become the stuff of legends. It was also a tribute to the small staff in the observation tower that endured this surprise storm and logged the important data.

Finally, if you just can’t get enough snow more snow falls in the Western Mountains of the US than anywhere in the world. Mt. Rainier in Washington has an average 692″ (17,580 mm) of white stuff each year. Their record fall came in 1971 - ‘72 when they topped 1,122 inches ((28,500mm). In the East - Mt. Washington enjoys an average 269″ per year.

But for those of us who live closer to “the ground” here are a few choices this or any winter:

Valdez, Ak - 327″

Blue Canyon, Ca - 240.3

Marquette, Mi - 138.7″

Sault St. Marie, Mi - 117.4″

Syracuse, NY - 115.8″

Caribou, Me - 112″

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by pgeiger
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One more comment on Mother Nature and what winter holds. In a supermarket near you, you should find a persimmon fruit. If you cut it open a seed may be another clue to winter weather. According to old-timers, persimmon seeds can be used to predict the severity of winter weather. When cut into two pieces, the persimmon seed will display on of three symbols. A knife shape will indicate a cold icy winter (where wind will cut through you like a knife). A fork shape indicates a mild winter. A spoon shape stands for a shovel to dig out the snow.

If you do open a seed, let me know where you are located and how the seed reads.

You know how everything is “bigger” and presumably better in Texas, well that may be true. One of the signs of a heard winter is the size and frequency of spider webs. In this morning’s paper an AP article captured the fact that entomologists are looking into the discovery of a sprawling spider web that covers a number of trees and measures 200 yards. Yikes. Located in Wells Point (Texas), it is so large that one person is quoted as saying “”Now it is filled with so many mosquitoes, that it has turned a little brown. There are times you can literally hear the screech of millions of mosquitoes caught in the webs.” Experts are saying the web may be constructed by “social cobweb spiders”. I don’t know but if I lived in Texas, I’d dust off my shovel.

Labor Day - this holiday was first celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882 in New York City. The originator of the celebration was the Central Labor Union. The first Labor Day holidays were celebrated with grand parades, picnics and sometimes fireworks. Today, labor Day is celebrated in many different ways but is still suppose to be a day set aside to appreciate the advancements, freedoms and prosperity our country experiences, thanks to the hardworking people who make up this country. With family and friends, have a memorable Labor Day Weekend! Stay safe.

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by pgeiger
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Yesterday, I mentioned 10 of the most common signs of a hard winter. Today, here is the rest of the list including some of the more popular ones.

* Pigs gathering sticks - have to live on a farm for that one.

* Insects marching a bee-line rather than meandering.

* Early seclusion of bees within the hive.

* Muskrats burrowing holes high on the riverbank.

* The squirrel gathers nuts earl to fortify for winter.

* Frequent halos or rings around the sun or moon forecasts numerous snows.

* Mice eating ravenously into a home.

* Heavy and numerous fogs in August.

The final two that I hear about most often are:

* Spiders spinning larger than normal webs and entering the house in great numbers.

* The wollybear caterpillar - A narrow orange band in the middle of the caterpillar warns of heavy snow; fat and fuzzy caterpillars warns of bitter cold. Also… a rough winter if you see lots of them crawling around, their movement is slow (thought they were always slow?), you saw them crawling before the first frost.

So, here is the official Farmers’ Almanac signs of a hard winter. I expect as we move into September, you will start to notice many of these. Feel free to share your observations. and/ or include a photo of your caterpillar or other sign of nature. I will post them. It can be mild in one place and rough in another. Let’s see how you observe nature getting ready for the winter months. My e-mail address is pgeiger@farmersalmanac.com.

Tomorrow I will tell you about winter and the persimmon seeds and winter.

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by pgeiger
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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.

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by pgeiger
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