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.
two ears of corn in their husks on a table
If you grew corn or harvested some onions from the garden, check the skins to see if they’re thicker or thinner (it doesn’t count with store-bought onions, which may have been grown elsewhere).
2. Woodpeckers Sharing a Tree
3. The Early Arrival of the Snowy Owl
Snowy owl – Owls
Snowy Owl
4. The Early Departure of Geese and Ducks
geese flying south at sunset
5. The Early Migration of the Monarch Butterfly
6. Thick Hair on the Nape of a Cow’s Neck
dairy cow
7. Heavy and Numerous Fogs During August
foggy lake
Pay attention and count the number of fogs in August. Folklore says the number will correspond to the number of snowstorms the coming winter.
8. Raccoons With Thick Tails and Bright Bands
9. Mice Chewing Furiously To Get Into Your Home
mouse in a hole in a home
10. The Early Arrival of Crickets on the Hearth
Crickets are not only a symbol of good luck but they can also tell us about the winter weather ahead.
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. 16. Muskrats Burrowing Holes High on the River Bank
Keep an eye on Susie and Sam!
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
A squirrel with a nut in his mouth foreshadowing a hard winter ahead.
Are the squirrels in your backyard furiously gathering and storing nuts? A hard winter may be in store.
20. Frequent Halos or Rings Around the Sun or Moon Forecasts Numerous Snowfalls
