I'm sure we have all heard of the woolly worm being used to predict the severity of the winter but is there anything about acorns?
I swear the acorn crop is more than I have ever seen. So has that ever been a predictor of weather events?
I also heard a "huff" yesterday while in the side of Pine Log mountain which I believe was probably a bear eating acorns but I didn't see it. So many tree nuts it is unbelievable.
Since most oaks require multi-years to produce acorns from 'bud to nut' their production is greatly affected by interim weather. Some oaks require three years to produce acorns. If an early freeze or an extended drought occurs at crucial times during that production period the crop can suffer. With our wild weather swings the chances are good that it may have been 4 or 6 or 9 years since there has been a good productive "bumper" crop.
Predicting weather with acorn observations might sound good in an almanac, but there is probably little science behind it. Nut production in trees is probably a better indicator of past weather than future.
All that being said, I have noticed the squirrels around began their fall chores a little earlier than usual. I've also noticed the butterfly and bird migration seems to have started early also. Could it be an indication of an early or particularly bad winter? I guess we'll see. My guess is a warmer than usual autumn with below average precipitation. I do believe the southern plains will have some severe cold and frozen precip this year, but probably either in December or after the first of the year. I'm basing that on the fact that most of the heavy winters I can remember followed particularly cool, wet summers and dry autumns.
Just A. Surveyor, post: 449620, member: 12855 wrote: I swear the acorn crop is more than I have ever seen.
I agree I thought last years crop was unusually large but there are twice as many this year. That means twice as many damn squirrels and bears. (I don't mind the bears because they don't try to take up residence in my roof.) 😎
Lots of acorns means there will be lots of mice next year, which means there will likely be lots of ticks. Just what we need....
Ken
Like Paden sez...it has more to do with the weather last March and April then next January and February
We have no pears this year and almost no persimmons. That's a sign of the weather last spring. The only good news is there will very few persimmons to check to find out if it is to be cold or snowy or mild this winter.
We had a decent crop of pears this year but the crows got most of them. I have no idea how accurate or "science based" it is but I have noticed that the old adage about hornets building their nests closer to the ground before a "cold" winter has been true (in my observation).
Andy
I've noticed over the years, that the presence of clouds sometimes forecast precipitation.
Cold days suggest snow, whereas warm sunny days, not so much.
There is ALWAYS some Winter between now and Spring (whenever that might be), and it will get cold (colder than it is now), and there WILL BE SNOW (exactly how much is yet to be seen). Generally speaking, the snow here in town is usually gone by Memorial Day, and hopefully that trend will continue (it's already snowed here a week or so ago).
If you don't like the weather...MOVE!
Personally, I LIKE the weather here, it keeps most of the undesirables away (at least in the Winter).
🙂
Loyal
After I read the topic, I thought this thread was going to be about my arthritis.
There's some scientific evidence we may be headed for a Solar Grand Minimum. The scientists believe the Solar Grand Minimum that occurred in the 17th century is correlated to the mini ice age of that time.
Immediate weather predictor is the mackerel sky signifying a change in the weather pattern.
Just A. Surveyor, post: 449620, member: 12855 wrote: I'm sure we have all heard of the woolly worm being used to predict the severity of the winter but is there anything about acorns?
I swear the acorn crop is more than I have ever seen. So has that ever been a predictor of weather events?
I also heard a "huff" yesterday while in the side of Pine Log mountain which I believe was probably a bear eating acorns but I didn't see it. So many tree nuts it is unbelievable.
Persimmon Seed.
