I sometimes wonder why I am in the climate business. According to folklore, just look at the squirrels! Or the thickness of onion skins! Interestingly, weather folklore warning of a harsh winter is based on La Niña. So, it’s a little bit of art and science! Let’s look at some signs of a bad winter, accordingly to weather lore.
The competition for my job predicting weather is horrendous. Here is a sample of rodent wisdom:
Squirrels gathering nuts in a flurry,
Will cause snow to gather in a hurry.
In addition, a tough winter is ahead if squirrels’ tails are very bushy. (Are you polishing the snow shovel yet?)
Image: Weather folklore claims squirrels know about winter! Source: National Park Service
Birds and bees are giving you hints as well. When birds migrate early or bees build their nests high in the trees, the winter is going to be awful. The old saying goes:
See how high the hornet’s nest,
‘twill tell how high the snow will rest.
See how birds and insects predict the weather, too.
A narrow band of brown on a woolly caterpillar means the same thing.
Image: “Are your chrysanthemums really pretty? Get out the mittens.” Even the flowers know! Source: Wikimedia
Trees, flowers, vegetables, and plants are in the weather business as well. When leaves drop early, autumn and winter will be mild; but if they fall late, winter will be severe. Folklore claims that thicker onion skins can signal a cold and snowy winter.
Onion’s skin very thin,
Mild winter coming in ;
Onion’s skin thick and rough,
Coming winter cold and rough.
–Gardener’s Rhyme
Other signs of a bad winter are:
- Flowers blooming in late autumn
- Cornhusks thicker than normal and tight
- Tough apple skins
- Plentiful berries and nuts (which might be why the squirrels are so busy!)
Some of these are based on old-fashioned observation. But some goes back to science. Weather folklore warnings of a harsh winter are based on La Niña.
La Niña tends to be dry in summer and cold in winter, so if birds leave early, the leaves fall quickly, onions and apples are tough, and caterpillars are short, it may be due to the La Niña drought. A miserable La Niña winter will follow.
Image credit: Some folklore is warning of a cold La Niña winter. NOAA.
Other folklore is just based on the idea that you shouldn’t let your guard down. Lots of berries, nuts and flowers may be the sign of a lovely warm November. However, weatherwise, winter will probably be awful.
As for the squirrels—ignore them. They’re just squirrely!
Reader Comments
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My Squirrels
I live in the Inland NW. This will be the third winter at my home. I was noticing today, my squirrels are pudgy. In fact, they're just plain fat. We had our first snow of the season this past Friday. I will gladly continue to feed my little friends through this winter. Especially since it's rumored to wetter & colder then normal.
caterpillars and cacoons.
One of the coldest winters I remember in the San Joaquin Valley of California was when I found caterpillar cacoons under my roof awnings in July.
It froze so hard that when you drove through a puddle of water it froze up right behind you.
Also as a 75 year old living here virtually all my life the late summers and falls feel different. When the trees waffle in their annual hibernation, sudden warm spells it is cold. Really cold. When you just suddenly see the leaves turning it is still very cold but not to the freezing, hard freezing level.
Rain can be felt in the air and sometimes people say they can smell it. Sudden storms and animals will pace, dogs bark, horses run in circles, cats sit and look at the skies, a lightening storm coming and birds can be seen walking around, not flying, until suddenly they just fly away in mass.
Strange place I live in.
Evelyn Gariss
So sad to hear of her death. Thoughts and prayers to all
commenting on the winter
I know this I study weather I follow all patterns fronts etc but when there is lots of hurricanes and or tropical depressions this means plenty of snow in the coming winter this will never fail you not many hurricanes tropical depressions mean little snow that coming winter a lot of people do not know this I do
Winter Predictions
To Larry Dietrich - I too track signs to predict winter weather. Were there more hurricanes and tropical depressions than usual this winter?