Can signs from nature predict Ohio's winter weather?

Acorns and Fall LeavesPhoto byAnrita/Pixabay

Each fall, everyone in Ohio begins to wonder what type of weather Mother Nature has in store for the Buckeye State. Will it be mild, or will there be mountains of snow? Well, you don’t have to wait for a meteorologist’s forecast. That’s because you can use signs from nature to predict the winter weather. While these methods are folklore, here are a few that have stood the test of time:

Acorns

Are you seeing a lot of acorns? Folklore claims that means a cold, snowy winter is coming. If you spot more acorns than usual, it’s likely a mast year, meaning hardwood trees produce an abundance of nuts.

Pine Cones

It’s said that an abundance of pine cones in the fall forecasts a long, cold winter. But according to scientists, that isn’t true. Pine trees take three years to produce cones, and their production varies each year.

Woolly Bears

Since colonial times, the stripes on a woolly bear have been used to predict the weather. According to folklore, if there is a long band of brown through the caterpillar, the winter will be milder. The more black there is, the more severe winter will be.

While the legend’s popularity has spread through festivals honoring these caterpillars, the truth is that their coloring likely has more to do with their age than the upcoming winter weather.

Hornets’ Nest

“See how high the hornet’s nest; ‘twill tell how high the snow will rest.” This old saying claims if a hornet’s nest is built low to the ground, expect little snow. If it’s high, expect a snowy winter. However, by the time winter arrives, hives are abandoned, and the hornets aren’t affected by the amount of fallen snow.

Whether you're eight or eighty, using folklore to predict the winter weather is a fun activity. The next time you're outside, try these methods and see if your predictions come true.