Weather sign question

[WanderingOak]

I have a question concerning weather 'signs'. This year, I have had a large number of acorns falling in August. My front deck is covered with them. I know this is early, especially for Virginia. The nights have not been exceptionally cold or anything like that, so I am not sure as to the reason why. In fact, we had a heat wave last week, which kept the temperatures well above 80, even at night. I have also noticed some of my neighbors trees starting to turn, and it is not even September yet.

I know that leaves usually turn and acorns fall in response to environmental changes, but as far as I can tell, we have had a fairly typical summer. It was a bit damp last month, but that was it. Is anybody out there better at reading the signs than I am?

[RedTartan]

My muscovy ducks are molting already. I read that they molt in the fall in response to lower light levels. They must molt in response to more than that though 'cause they're doing it now...

RedTartan

[RedTartan]

Oooooo... Just found this article online:

A Very Stormy Winter 2007 Arrives Early This Year
Theodore White/Astrometeorologist
*Updated: August 1, 2006

American & Canadian Farmers urged to plan for
a early harvest this year because of early winter
climate conditions arriving by late October 2006.
(**Farmers - see info below on Spring 2007 conditions.)

Prepare for a chiller than normal, and fast
autumn, and a early, and stormier, winter season
just ahead. Winter, in my astromet forecast,
officially begins early November 2006.

Despite the blistering heat that will cover most
of North America, my astrometeorological
outlook calls for a fall season that develops
earlier than normal, and the coming of a cold,
snowy, wet, and windy winter season ahead.

The coming autumn & winter seasons reveal that
summer 2006 will be quicker than usual, though
with above normal temperatures, and below normal
temperatures affecting most of the United States.
Summer has arrived earlier than usual and will
end early as well.

According to my calculations, the change will
be quite noticable by late September/early
October, and very clear by the end of October,
close to the weekend of return to standard
daylight time - that winter has come.

The end of October is stormy, wet, and cold,
with the first snows of the season falling
around the time of Halloween and the first
week of November 2006. Expect chilly, wet,
and windy conditions that will come as a surprise
to the unprepared.

Winter 2007 will arrive earlier than normal
in most parts of the country, including New
England, the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Upper
Midwest, and Pacific Northwest ~
all having stormy winter conditions, and
below average cold temperatures, gusting
winds, stormier precipiations of cold
rains, snow, and ice ~ earlier than usual.

[Yldrosie]

Here, in nothern NV, there has been a "fall feel" to the air for the last two weeks. Very odd.

[MELOC]

my cherry trees started to drop leaves early as well as some of the nut trees. this whole year seems like it is two weeks ahead of schedule. i think the strawberries and the raspberries came at least a week early.

it does seem a bit early for acorns to drop. i do think that the early acorns are usually white and pin oak. deer love them so watch any other plants you have outside as deer may find them when they find the acorns. i also want to say that white oaks produce every other year (i think) so maybe the abundance is just a cycle. next year you may not have as many acorns.

[Alice In TX/MO]

I was wondering about the season cycle, too, on the heals of excessive heat. Last time we had one of these brutally hot Julys, autumn started in August.

[WanderingOak]

I also saw a small group of low flying geese the other day. Isn't it a bit early for geese to be migrating? Also, temps are in the low 60's right now, forecast to drop into the 50's tonight. Something ain't quite right. It could be that I am focused on the weather right now, but I have noticed that it has been quite odd of late. Perhaps I need to start looking into gathering firewood...

[legacy]

An unusual abundance of acorns is one sign of a hard winter. How early they fall is a factor. The only thing is that you have to know is how many usually fall to be able to judge the severity. Every seven years there is an abundance of acorns. And, it has nothing to do with winter.

[WanderingOak]

Originally Posted by legacy

An unusual abundance of acorns is one sign of a hard winter. How early they fall is a factor. The only thing is that you have to know is how many usually fall to be able to judge the severity. Every seven years there is an abundance of acorns. And, it has nothing to do with winter.

I have only been on this property for 5 1/2 years, so I am not sure when the 7 year cycle is for this region. That could very well be a valid explanation as to what is going on. Then again, I do not believe I have ever seen the leaves on any of my neighbors trees turn yellow and fall this early. Does that happen early on a periodic cycle as well?

[Pony]

Originally Posted by RedTartan

Oooooo... Just found this article online:

A Very Stormy Winter 2007 Arrives Early This Year
Theodore White/Astrometeorologist
*Updated: August 1, 2006

American & Canadian Farmers urged to plan for
a early harvest this year because of early winter
climate conditions arriving by late October 2006.
(**Farmers - see info below on Spring 2007 conditions.)

Okay, but where's the Spring 2007 conditions?

Pony!

[fixer1958]

I look at the Wolly Booger catapillars (sp). The black and orange ones.
The length of the black in the middle determines how harsh the winter will be and how soon. I always see them when cutting firewood. It's never wrong in my opinion. We are due for a bad one in the midwest.

[myheaven]

according to my corn it will be a hard winter here. And im preparing for it. I can tell by the husks if they are thin and few (like last year) mild winter. If they are thick and MANY (like this year) winter will be hard. this time of the year is normaly very hot but it seems we have hit our peak in july and are geting cooler now. Im planting my cool season veggies now. and gearing up. Ill watch my dogs and cats fir. If it starts to get thicker earlyer then I know it will hit early.

[chas]

Global warming?
Chas

[WolfWalksSoftly]

Here in southern Missouri, the hickory nuts are falling, leaves are falling..but do to drought. Last year we had tons of acorns wich made for a less than desirable Deer season and it was a fairly mild winter..little snow and mild temps.

[MaineFarmMom]

August 15:



It was 37° when I got up at 5:30 a.m. I don't remember ever seeing it this cold in August. Today's high is 68°. I'm sitting here in jeans and a sweater instead of shorts and tank.

The leaves maple leaves are beginning to change. The bog maples are already flaming red. The pine and spruce trees are loaded with cones and I've never seen so many seeds on the maples. The beach nut trees are loaded. My livestock started putting on winter coats two weeks ago.

[Irish Pixie]

High today of 75, and a low tonight of 40-45 in the middle of August! Crazy weather...

Stacy

[blufford]

[QUOTE=WanderingOak]I have a question concerning weather 'signs'. This year, I have had a large number of acorns falling in August. My front deck is covered with them. I know this is early, especially for Virginia. [QUOTE]

I hope your oak trees aren't diseased or stressed. I have read that sometimes when tress are dying, they make one last ditch effort to continue their species by producing and dropping a large amount of their seeds. (acorns)
The Wye Oak in Wye Mills MD was doing this (producing a lot of acorns) when it was rotting from the inside. It got struck by lightening before it died naturally. I hope you had a chance to see it.

[vegascowgirl]

We've had a tuff time with dry weather here so I haven't thought much about our falling leaves. However I did notice a couple days ago that the sumac and bittersweet are already getting their bright fall color. Last year they didn't turn 'till about late september or so around my small part of MO.

[WanderingOak]

Originally Posted by blufford

I hope your oak trees aren't diseased or stressed. I have read that sometimes when tress are dying, they make one last ditch effort to continue their species by producing and dropping a large amount of their seeds. (acorns)
The Wye Oak in Wye Mills MD was doing this (producing a lot of acorns) when it was rotting from the inside. It got struck by lightening before it died naturally. I hope you had a chance to see it.

No, I never did get the chance to see the Wye oak. If it was only one oak tree that was dropping acorns I would be concerned about it's health. However, I have at least 10 that are doing it. I do have at least four pine trees that lost all of their bark- some kind of nematode. I am sure they will be dead soon, if not already. However, the bark on my oak trees looks good, so I don't think that is the problem. I have also noticed that some Ailanthus weeds are starting to turn bright red- again quite early for these parts.

[MaineFarmMom]

Originally Posted by Wind in Her Hair

Robin, I loved your website! You sound like "our kind of people"! Congratulations on walking the talk. (loved your Spots, too - a lifetime ago, I used to work on a Swine farm and we had a few old ancient Spots. )

Please tell me where you acquired your cool thermometer thingee?

Thank you! It's a nice life. If I can do this anyone can. Heels and suits to jeans and boots.

I miss my Spots. I might have a breeding pair later, when life slows down. They are wonderful pigs but there are so few of them. I looked into important from Europe. It would have been $3,000 per pig plus the expense of going to get them in NY. I couldn't do it.

The thermometer is a snapshot of Weather Bug. www.weatherbug.com It runs in the background. When there's a weather alert or a forecast update the icon flashes. It's gotten a lot of use this year with our tornado warnings, flash floods and violent lightening storms. I took a snap shot of Weather Bug (print screen on keyboard, pasted into a program and edited), uploaded it to my domain and inserted the link.