The National Weather Service, local meteorologists, and plenty of weather apps provide great weather forecasts for those looking to plan for the week ahead. Today, most weather forecasts are around 80% up to 7 days out. Knowing exactly what the weather will look like in weeks or months is near impossible, but sources like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration‘s Climate Prediction Center provide decently accurate general forecasts for the months ahead.
Instead of purely relying on the scientific, some people choose to focus their attention on folklore to predict the weather long before it arrives. Signs in nature have provided a look at the incoming weather to people for centuries, while groups like the Old Farmers’ Almanac use a mix of science and folklore to provide forecasts for the upcoming year. The information they provide can be vital for farmers and gardeners trying to learn what to plant and when to plant it.
Farmers, homesteaders, and general weather enthusiasts have relied on birds, plants, insects, and more to provide a general idea of what the upcoming winter will look like far ahead of time. Some of these signs are rooted in science while others are completely originated in folklore. No matter which way it leans, keeping an eye on these natural signs can be a great way to get excited for winter. Some folklore even states that the first snowfall of the year can provide a look at the winter ahead. Here are 3 ways the first snowfall of the year can forecast the winter ahead according to the Old Farmers’ Almanac.
3 Ways The First Snowfall Forecasts The Upcoming Winter Accord to the Old Farmers’ Almanac
- The date that the first snowflakes fall on can tell you how many times it will snow in the winter ahead (i.e. 12 days of snow if the first snowfall comes on the 12th of the month).
- According to the Old Farmers’ Almanac, the number of days from Christmas the first snowflakes fall is how many times it will snow through the winter ahead.
- The date of the first snowflake plus the number of days past the new moon tell you how many days it will snow throughout the winter.
