While technology often tells us what kind of weather to expect, people used to forecast weather conditions by observing signs in nature.
This winter, El Niño, dubbed a "super El Niño" by some forecasters due to its projected strength and potential to rank among the most powerful on record, is expected to impact Tennessee drastically.
Historically, strong El Niños have brought milder, wetter-than-normal conditions to the state in fall and early winter, with December temperatures averaging several degrees above normal and a higher chance of rainfall.
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Now that fall has arrived, Tennessee will begin to see signs from nature that can help predict what the upcoming winter season will be like.
If you don't want to wait until winter arrives, here are signs you can use to predict how severe Tennessee's winter will be this year.
Can persimmon seeds tell the weather?
Telling what kind of winter to expect with apersimmon seed is easy. Head to the farmer's market, grab a locally grown persimmon seed, and cut it in half. The shape inside the seed indicates how the winter season will proceed.
A spoon inside means a snowy winter. A fork inside means a mild winter. A knife inside means a frigid winter.
What does a woolly worm mean for winter?
Woolly worms are used to predict winter based on their colors. Woolly worms are found across North America, so watch for this fuzzy creature. Brown on a woolly worm indicates a mild winter. Black represents a harsh winter. The more brown on a woolly worm, the less intense the winter will be.
What about onion, apple skins and corn husks?
When onions and corn have thicker husks, it is a good indicator that you'll want your thicker coats for the winter ahead. Similarly, with apples, winter will be more intense if the skin is thick. The consensus is that if you notice it is harder to peel fruits and vegetables to get to the produce inside, you can expect a harsh winter.
"Onion’s skin very thin, Mild winter coming in; Onion’s skin thick and tough, Coming winter cold and rough."
— Old English Proverb
Can a late fall and leaf drop predict winter?
According to the Farmer's Almanac, if leaves drop early in the season, autumn and winter will likely be mild. If the leaves fall late, you can expect a severe winter. Some people also believe that brighter leaves in fall mean cold and snowy winters.
Can squirrels predict a bad winter?
Animals have been shown to be all-knowing when it comes to weather preparation, and for years, people have looked at animals to prepare for upcoming seasons.
The fur on animals shows whether winter will be harsh. Animals grow much thicker fur and feathers to prepare for cold winters. It is also thought that if a hen's feathers molt before a rooster's feathers, winter will be harsh.
Notice a lot of acorns on the ground lately? Well, you can thank the squirrels preparing for winter. When winter is going to be bad, squirrels and other foraging animals will gather more nuts.
There is also a belief that early bird migration is a good indicator of a harsh winter. Migration starts slowly in August and picks up in November. If you notice a lot of birds traveling south in September, go ahead and get those coats out.
What happens to spiders in the winter?
Unfortunately, spiders also prefer heated homes to the cold weather outside. If you find yourself battling more spiders inside your home, it's likely because of an oncoming winter storm. Along those lines, if you see spiders spinning extra-large webs, snow is coming your way.
Ants marching ahead and bees preparing for winter?
Ants marching one by one can indicate a heavy winter.
Sadly, no old wives' tale predicts how intense or how long winter will be. However, bees can tell you when winter is officially starting. One of the first things bees do when winter is coming is kick out all the male worker bees, as they don't contribute to the hive.
Can August weather foretell winter?
August is a major source of weather information, according to a few old wives' tales. It is believed that each day of fog in August indicates how many times it will snow during the winter. Another tale says an unusually hot first week in August means winter will be hard and dry. Another way August can predict winter is in collaboration with July.
"If a cold August follows a hot July, it foretells a winter hard and dry."
— Farmer's Almanac
What the date of the first snowfall could say about winter
Rumor has it that the date the first snow falls will tell how many snows there will be. If the first snow is on the eighth, you can expect eight more snows. It is also believed that the number of days between the first snowfall and Christmas will indicate how many times it will snow over winter.
Jordan Green covers trending news for The Commercial Appeal and Tennessee. She can be reached at jordan.green@commercialappeal.com
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Will Tennessee see snow this winter? What these signs of nature might say
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