20 Signs Of Bad Winter Coming
Before there were weather apps for your smartphone, people looked to nature to prepare for what's to come. What signs of a hard winter are you already seeing in your backyard?
Predicting winter weather has always been important, especially for farmers and our ancestors who didn’t have access to all of the technology we have. Fortunately nature has always offered clues to upcoming weather conditions so you could prepare ahead. Today, most of us forget to tune into these natural signs.
A wonderful friend of Farmers’ Almanac’s Editor, Ray Geiger’s, Cleveland weather guru Dick Goddard put together a laundry list of 20 signs of nature that can predict a harsh winter ahead. We featured the list in the 1978 Farmers’ Almanac, and it is still relevant today.
20 Signs of a Cold and Harsh Winter
According to weather lore, if you see any of these signs, winter could be quite tough, with lots of cold temperatures and snow:
1. Thicker-Than-Normal Onion Skins or Corn Husks
2. Woodpeckers Sharing a Tree
3. The Early Arrival of the Snowy Owl
4. The Early Departure of Geese and Ducks
5. The Early Migration of the Monarch Butterfly
6. Thick Hair on the Nape of a Cow’s Neck
Have you seen any of these signs? Share your experiences and photos in the comments below!
7. Heavy and Numerous Fogs During August
8. Raccoons With Thick Tails and Bright Bands
Related
9. Mice Chewing Furiously To Get Into Your Home
10. The Early Arrival of Crickets on the Hearth
11. Spiders Spinning Larger-Than-Usual Webs and Entering the House in Great Numbers
12. Pigs Gathering Sticks
13. Ants Marching in a Line Rather Than Meandering
14. Early Seclusion of Bees Within the Hive
15. Unusual Abundance of Acorns
16. Muskrats Burrowing Holes High on the River Bank
17. “See how high the hornet’s nest, ‘twill tell how high the snow will rest.”
18. The Size of the Orange Band on the Woolly Bear (or Woolly Worm) Caterpillar
According to folklore, if the woolly worm caterpillar’s orange band is narrow, the winter will be snowy; conversely, a wide orange band means a mild winter (all black caterpillars are not woolly worms). And fuzzier-than-normal woolly worm caterpillars are said to mean that winter will be very cold.
19. Squirrels Gathering Nuts Early to Fortify Against a Hard Winter
20. Frequent Halos or Rings Around the Sun or Moon Forecasts Numerous Snowfalls
Related: What Is A Moon Halo Or Moonbow?
What About Persimmons?
Winter weather lore says to cut inside the seed of a ripe persimmon—the shape of the cotyledon will tell you what’s in store for winter. Read more about how to predict the weather with your locally grown persimmon here.
Join The Discussion
Are you seeing any of these signs in your backyard?
Do you know of any other signs from nature that foretell a harsh winter?
Share with your community here in the comments section below!
Related
Can pine cones predict the upcoming winter?
Snow lore – what lore points to snowy conditions?
Peter Geiger
Peter Geiger is the Editor Emeritus of the Farmers' Almanac. Read his full biography.
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- Peter Geiger#molongui-disabled-link
- Peter Geiger#molongui-disabled-link
- Peter Geiger#molongui-disabled-link
We had an unusual amount of acorns with squirrels doing frenetic gathering.
Also, our holly trees filled with berries.
We live in Kentucky and have had 6 inches of snow with 1/2 ice. Another snow storm on the way and frigid temps.
My walnut trees shed very few walnuts this year and that’s very unusual. I thought this could be a sign of a mild winter?
I had several Harvestman Spider in my Apartment this Spring and Summer
Up in North Jersey, we are not seeing much of any these signs. Very few acorns or even the dust from the caps being crush by our cars. We had a cricket or 2 in the home but that is it. A couple of high webs last month but nothing as in the past years. Even critter activity is low.
I find all this so interesting. Thank you for sharing!
Early heavy mast of acorns 3 weeks ago . Water is high in the swamp . Pine trees dropping there needles like crazy . Squirrel s hoarding acorns , my dog is going crazy chasing them
The last time o saw all the across this much in my driveway we had 80inches of snow and actual temperature of 35 below 0
Oh wow!!! Wishes for a safe winter for you!