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Onion skins, sandhill cranes & more: Nature’s forecast for winter weather

Posted by: Maven on November 15, 2009 at 9:43 am

From Tom Stienstra of the San Francisco Chronicle:

“If you look close enough, nature will always tell you everything you need to know.

In the past month, I’ve received dozens of requests for my annual winter weather forecast. Truth is, nature makes the forecast, not me. I just look for the signs.

It’s not about squirrels collecting nuts, the thickness of coats on woolly caterpillars or duck migrations, like you might read elsewhere. It’s about the sprouting of tiny plants in forests, migration of sandhill cranes, onions in the San Joaquin Valley and the interface between coastal sea and land temperatures. Then there’s the “swing effect” (and we’ll get to that).

Tiny plants: On a hike in the mountains this past week, I spotted a stunning amount of tiny plants sprouting on the forest floor. This is extremely rare for mid-November, with the onset of winter imminent in the high country.

What it means: In drought years, this never happens. In fact, before a drought, small plants go into induced hibernation to protect themselves. So there will be no drought this winter. The opposite is likely true, that there will be enough soil moisture for this freshly sprouted vegetation to flourish next spring.

And what about the sandhill cranes, onion skins, & other natural indicators? Read more from Tom Stienstra by clicking here.

November 15, 2009 · Filed Under Drought, Weather & Snowpack

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