Before there were high-tech options to try and predict the coming winter, people had to trust the things around them in nature to be able to see what the coming season might look like.

They used different things that many would now consider folklore.

Sweet gum trees:

Some people use Sweet Gum Trees, saying if the leaves change before October 31, the winter could be milder. If it stays green beyond this point, there may be cooler days ahead.

Hedge apple:

Usually, fruits that appear larger show a harsher winter ahead, but smaller fruits show signs of a milder winter.

Nuts:

Tales of old women say that when large quantities of nuts fall, it means a freezing and snowy winter.

Thin shells mean more normal temperatures, while thick shells mean cooler temperatures.

Woolly worms:

Some people believe that counting the bands on a woolly worm can predict the coming winter.

The 13 bands represent the 13 weeks that make up winter, and some believe that if there are more brown bands, the winter won’t be that harsh.

When there is an extra brown ring near the head of the worm, it is a sign of a bad winter.

Squirrel nests:

Squirrels build their nests for the winter, and if the winter is bad, they tend to build them higher in the trees.

If there are nests high in trees, squirrels plan to spend a lot of time there to fight off snow and cold.

Are these predictions scientific guarantees?

Probably not, but the tips have been around since before meteorologists existed and Native Americans and Pioneers looked to nature for signs of the coming winter.

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