Weird Ways To Forecast Harsh Winter

Wondering what kind of winter we will be having?  Well you can always ask your local weatherman. You can also check out the Farmers Almanac or (and this is my favorite) read up on good ol'  Folklore.

Before the days of TV or radio, people had different ways of forecasting the upcoming winter, and yes, some of these ways were pretty crazy, at least by today's standards.  Here is a list of some of those crazy forecasts.

If you are a gardner and grew onions or corn, check the skins. If the skins are thicker than normal, yup it's going to be a cold harsh winter.

You can also watch the birds. The early arrival of the snowy owl or the early departure of geese and ducks can signal a horrible winter.

Another sign, and I'm not making this up, is thick hair on the nape of a cow's neck

Folklore also says that you should pay attention in August and count the number of frogs.  The number of frogs you see will correspond with the number of snowstorms in the upcoming winter.

The early arrival of crickets on the hearth is another sign. According to the Farmers Almanac, crickets are not only a symbol of good luck but they can also tell you about the winter weather ahead.

You can't make this stuff up folks. Bottom line, you can never predict how the weather in Michigan will play out. As the saying goes "if you don't like the weather in Michigan, just wait a few hours and it will change."

The Farmers Almanac has more fun facts like like this.