Artcile--
Almanacs, folklore, technology offer many ways to divine winter's path
By ARLENE MANNLEIN - H&R Staff Writer

DECATUR - Squirrel tails, ant hills, onion skins, woolly worms, even persimmon seeds have been used to divine the weather.

So has reading the "The Old Farmer's Almanac" or instruments that measure atmospheric pressure, temperature, wind direction, humidity and precipitation.

The most advanced technology has given forecasters Doppler radar.
(( and they're as dependable as the above))
Attempts to predict weather have been made since the time of the Babylonians, and it seems everyone has their favorite and can't miss peek into the future.


Specific growth and development are related to weather conditions that have passed with no connection to those to come, said R.E. Spencer.

Spencer, formerly of the National Weather Service, wrote those words in the Dec. 27, 1954, issue of "Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin."

Spencer could have been addressing any weather lore such as the following:


n If a neighborhood squirrel's tail is especially bushy, that's a sign a severe winter is at hand. The same is true for the squirrels readying winter food. If they start collecting large numbers of acorns early, that's another sign of a bad winter.
(( Their tails are bushy & and they stole 3 5 gal. buckets of walnuts off me))(( Their tails are bushy & and they stole 3 5 gal. buckets of walnuts off me))
n If the hornets' nests are high in the treetops, there's a mild winter coming. Not true if those nests are closer to the ground.
(( The ones I've seen are high in the tree tops))
n If ant hills were high by July, a snowy winter is coming.
(( Can't say?))
n If leaves seem to stay longer on the trees in the fall, it's a sign of a bad winter.
(( I disagree - if they fALL off quick, it means they're preparing for winter-going to sleep early))
n If onion skins are thin, that means winter is supposed to be mild.
(( Mine rotted too much rain!))
n A warm November foretells of a bad winter.
[[ That one I've never heard of?]]
n But if the first snow falls on unfrozen ground, expect a mild winter.
{{ I seen that proven untrue!}}
n If the woolly worm's head is more black (darker) than colored, the coldest winter months are at the beginning. If, however, the woolly worm's coat is more black than brown, the worse the winter is going to be.
({[Worms don't know!!]})
n If the dark center of the persimmon tree seed resembles the shape of a spoon, it means heavy snow. If the shape looks more like a fork, that's light, fluffy snow. And, a knife? That's icy, cutting winds.
[[I opened 3, it wasn't a spoon is was a scoop shovel!!]]
According to weather lore, any or all of the above can be used to predict the coming weather.

It's usually the woolly worm and the persimmon that are more traditional locally, said Jeff Tish, program services manager for the Macon County Conservation District.

Don Horne, volunteer at Rock Springs for 20 years, said he'd always heard that woolly worms' coats predict the weather, but he said, "I've got tons of useless information (memorized) but not much about the weather."

Tish has yet to see many woolly worms this year, he said, so no good chance of predictions lie with them. But, he said, perhaps some of the reason for the lore surrounding the caterpillar's coat is that it hibernates, so the more black hair, the more sun's warmth that could be absorbed for that long sleep.

As for the persimmon seed, well, Tish said, "They say the spoon, knife or fork shape in the seed predicts weather."
Spoon: Harsh winter with wet snow
Fork: Mild winter with light powdery dustings
of snow
Knife: Very cold winter with harsh cutting winds




But, it has its problems, too.

"Almost every one I've ever cut open had a spoon," he said
OK! -- What have you heard that I haven't???[]OK! -- What have you heard that I haven't???[]

WEATHER "Forecasters"

This message has been edited. Last edited by: terry,

"Red sky at night, sailor's delight. Red Sky in the morning, sailors take a warning"

This one definitley 'holds water' or snow

I am not sure about the snow, but it sure is raining and cold this evening.

I always heard that depending on what day we got our first snow, that is how many big snows we would get. If so, our first snow was 7 Dec and that would mean 7 bad snows. (Ugh)

Old Weather Mule

quote:

Originally posted by Nan:
Old Weather Mule

Just had to bring this up again, I love mules, worked with them for 20 years, wish I had a couple right now!
They're a u'nike animal! As stubbern as humans!
But loveable!

Heard this one a couple weeks ago. Sure proving true for June.
If it rains the 1st day of the month, it'll rain 1/2 the days of the month...

Wooley Worms colors forecast winter

[COLOR:RED]:NOT TRUE!: Seen it 2 many times - nothing 2 it![/COLOR]Can't use color & bold @ the same time - what a shame!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"THIS MULE!" is betwixed & betwen - don't stand behind him "R" let him bite "U" cause he's gona do 1 or the other!
Yes! 'i' know mules - ask me any question about mules - & I'll give you an answer.
(( RAISED with'm for 21 years - know what their gona do before they do!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: terry,