We can't avoid it, Illinois. Winter is coming, and your yard might be trying to give you signs about the weather ahead

2024-2025 Winter Predictions for Illinois

October seems to be the time of year when many people living in the Midwest start bracing themselves for the winter ahead.

The Old Farmer's Almanac recently released their 2024-2025 winter predictions, and I might not know diddly squat about meteorology, but to me, this map doesn't look that bad...

almanac.com
almanac.com
loading...

The Old Farmer's Almanac weather predictions are usually around 80% accurate, and the last two winters haven't treated Illinois too terribly, so keep your fingers crossed that the trend continues for another year.

Nature Signs For a Bad Winter

When it comes to weather, I tend to be a glass half empty type of person and never fully believe what long-range forecasts predict. Why? Because I have lived in Illinois my entire life, and I know that weather conditions can change in an instant.

That being said, I tend to look for natural signs every fall that a hard winter may be coming.

Canva
Canva
loading...

Have you ever heard the old saying; "Squirrels gathering nuts in a flurry,
Will cause snow to gather in a hurry"? 

Well, the squirrels in my neck of the woods seem to be frantically gathering nuts, so that can't be good, right?

Here are some more natural signs or a harsh inter to look for in your yard according to the Farmer's Almanac;

  • Squirrels with extra bushy tails
  • Thicker than normal corn husks
  • Early departure of geese and ducks
  • Thick hair on a cow's neck
  • Lots of spiders in your house spinning extra large webs
  • The size of the orange band on a Wooly Bear caterpillar ( a small amount of orange is bad, a large amount is good)

I don't know about you, but I've killed a LOT of spiders in my home the last few weeks and have been vaccuming up huge spider webs. Perhaps I need to buy warmer winter clothes now...just in case?

KEEP READING: Get answers to 51 of the most frequently asked weather questions...

 

More From Rockford's New Country Q98.5