I imagine that since the beginning of time, we have been trying to predict the weather, especially our winters.

Before computers and smartphones, people relied on the Farmer’s Almanac to predict the weather in the coming seasons — and some still do.

For this coming winter, the Almanac is predicting the following forecast for Ontario:

“‘Temperate’ is on tap for most of the country this winter, but let it snow in Ontario! A winter of big freezes and heavy snowfall will be centred in Ontario and eastern Manitoba, while most of the rest of the country will get some relief and reprieve from snow shovelling and super-cold temperatures.”

They predict that from mid to late January we will have very heavy snowfalls. How exciting (not!).

Even with the current technology we have to use, predicting the weather still seems like a bit of a gamble. But before this technology, what scientific methods would they have had to use? 

Of course, predictions were made from observing nature. I must admit, as one who grew up on a farm, I love the many “observations” that have been passed down through the generations. 

Most of them can be confirmed, scientifically speaking, but at first glance can seem questionable.

Here are a few ways in which you can predict the coming winter weather — for this winter or the next.

1. If the skins on onions and corn husks are thicker than normal, winter will be colder.

2. If two or more woodpeckers share a tree for storing food, it indicates a heavier snowfall this winter.

3. In the Niagara area, the snowy owls typically return in mid to late November. If they arrive earlier than this, expect a colder winter with heavy snowfall.

4. The early migration of monarch butterflies indicates a cold winter ahead.

5. The thicker the hair grows on the nape of a cow’s neck the colder the winter will be.

6. Frequent, heavy fog patches in August can be an indicator of a cold winter with lots of precipitation.

7. We can expect a bad winter when the raccoons have thicker tails with brighter coloured bands.

8. The early arrival of crickets indicates a tough winter ahead.

9. Spiders spinning webs larger than ever and a larger number of spiders in your home also indicate a snowy winter.

10. Pigs gathering sticks, leaves and other material to make a nest means more snow than usual.

11. Ants marching in a single line instead of fanning out more also indicates a bad winter ahead

12. Early seclusion of bees in the beehive

13. Muskrats burrowing holes higher on the riverbank means more snowfall than usual.

14. See how high a hornet nests … will tell you how high the snow will rest.

15. Squirrels gathering more nuts earlier than usual means heavy snowfalls.

16. Frequent halos around the sun and moon are a sign of a bad winter.

17. If the orange band on the woolly bear caterpillars is thicker than the black bands, there will be less snow and cold.

18. I love this last one. If you pick a locally grown persimmons, the seed inside will be one of three shapes — a fork, a spoon or a knife. If it is a fork, the winter will be mild. If it is shaped like a spoon, the spoon resembles a shovel so there will be lots of snow to shovel. If it is shaped like a knife, it means that it will be biting, bitter cold that will cut like a knife. 

According to a report based on persimmon seeds taken this past October, this winter will be a wet and stormy one! According to the persimmon theory, winter is bound to be a “mixed bag this year. We’re looking at lots of rain, some ice and even some wet snow this year.” They found equal parts spoons, knives and forks.

Even though I cannot prove every one of these predictors is true, I cannot disprove them yet at this point either. More research is needed.

All I can say is, keep your snow shovels handy this winter.

Joanne Young is a Niagara-on-the-Lake garden expert and coach. See her website at joanneyoung.ca.