ROUGH WINTER? Have you seen a lot of acorns falling

this fall? How about spiders spinning larger then normal webs? According to the Old Farmers Almanac this could mean a harsh winter is coming. Weather folklore uses signs in nature to predict weather. A lot of acorns falling could mean lots of snow. In their 2014-15

winter weather forecast, the Almanac predicted the southeastern part of the U.S. as being crisp and stormy. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration also predicts below average temperatures in parts of the south-central and southeastern United States as well.

Here are some some good old fashioned folklore signs of a harsh winter. It may be time to stock up on some cold weather necessi-ties. Hot chocolate anyone?

Chilly,normalprecipitation

Crisp andvery stormy

Frigid and aky

Cool,averageprecipitation

Brisk and wet

Stinging andnormal snowfall

Chilly and wet

Bitter and snowy

Wintery,white andwet

THE OLD FARMERS’ ALMANAC2015 WEATHER FORECAST

PAST SNOWFALLS IN GREENSBOROJANUARY, 2005-14* (IN INCHES)

OH YEAH, THE LEAVES. ARE THEY EVERY GOING TO FALL?

05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14

.7 .7.7

1.5

6.4

1.4 1.60 0

3

Source: National Weather Service

GreenvilleFayetteville

Greensboro

AshevilleCharlotte

News & Record

Raleigh

NORTH CAROLINA SNOWFALL TOTALS

1.2”

0.9”2”

4”

1.8”

0.9”

1.4”

Wilmington

Bad year for fall color? Trees need cool temperatures and rainy days to produce bright colored leaves. Warm temperature can slow the process. According to researchers at Princeton University autumn leaf color changes have moved back by an average of about five days in the last 18 years, all over the world possibly from climate changes.

WHEN THEY DO FALL, RAKE THEM TO THE CURBThe City’s Field Operations Department is conducting its 2014-15 Loose Leaf Collection Program from November 10 through January 23, 2015. This year’s program has two scheduled collection periods:

n Leaves that are curbside by November 10 will be picked up by December 20.n Leaves that are curbside by December 22 will be picked up by January 23, 2015.

Source: The Old Farmers’ Almanac; National Weather Service; City of Greensboro; News & Record Research

SIGNS OF A

SIGNS OF A HARD WINTERn Thicker than normal corn husksn Woodpeckers sharing a treen Early arrival of the Snowy owln Early departure of geese and ducksn Early migration of the Monarch butterflyn Raccoons with thick tails and bright bandsn Mice eating ravenously into the homen Early arrival of crickets on the hearthn Spiders spinning larger than usual webs and

entering the house in great numbersn Early seclusion of bees within the hiven Unusual abundance of acornsn “See how high the hornet’s nest, ‘twill tell

how high the snow will rest”n Narrow orange band in the middle of the

Woollybear caterpillar warns of heavy snow; fat and fuzzy caterpillars presage bitter cold

n The squirrel gathers nuts early to fortify against a hard winter

n Frequent halos or rings around sun or moon forecast numerous snow falls.