BellaOnline Forums Religion and Spirituality Folklore and Mythology Winter Weather Prediction

I have not yet seen the horses growing much fur on their bellies. Looks like we might have a mild winter.

How do you predict the coming winter in your area?

I guess more fur is in relation to all animals that have hair. Another one I have heard is the bushier the tail on a squirrel the harsher winter will be. But I have to admit I think the animals are confused as we are. The seasons are not as defined as they use to be.

Wooly caterpillers are a sign of a cold winter. My MIL and I were talking about them the other night; or I should say the lack of them.

I live in Nevada and have not seen any wooly caterpillers here. We used to have a lot of them in Washington. I miss Washington so very much.

There were a few wooly caterpillers walking across our deck the other day. Hope it's not too cold!

We are already getting some pretty cold nights here. Along about 2-3 AM I wake up shivering and have to put on my extra blanket. I have not seen any wooley things though.

We got just a touch of snow this evening and it has really turned cold, suddenly. The days, up until today, have been quite warm and sunny. It is a different kind of warm than the summer heat. This is like a warm cozy blanket kind of warm that seems to settle on us gently.

In my area it is the color of the woolie bear that determines the severity of winter. I think more black means colder winter, but can't remember if that is right.
Also... today all the ant hills are three times the size they normally are. One huge one in my back yard and all I looked at seemed extremly large. I'm not sure if that is a sign of cold days ahead or if it is a sign of heavy rain. But they all seem to be preparing for something.
I've heard when the loggerhead shrikes spear alot of grasshoppers on barbwire fences it will be a cold winter.

Bylen