Winter . . . is coming.
What kind of winter? Who knows. But there are predictions a’plenty!
For me, in my corner of the world, the predicted El Niño is supposed to bring us a warmer-than-normal winter, with less storm-activity than usual. (Neither of those things – temperature or storms – have been “normal” for years, so I don’t know what this might even mean. Normal . . . how? Old normal? New normal?)
Then, there is the added bonus of “lake effect” weather. Because Michigan is surrounded by water (and a lot of it), our weather is also very dependent on the state of the lakes. Like . . . if the air is cold coming across the warm(er) lake . . . we get a lot of snow. Not from a storm, but from the lake. If the air is cold coming across a frozen lake (which does happen) . . . we don’t get a lot of snow. Just a lot of cold air.
So. If the El Niño keeps things warmer-than-normal, the lakes are less likely to freeze. And when the cold winds blow across the lake, we could be in for a lot of lake-effect snow. But not snow from storms, because apparently fewer of them will impact our weather patterns. Because El Niño.
Yeah.
I’ll bet your winter weather predictions are kind of like mine are: pretty much worthless.
So I place my bets on . . . the woolly bear caterpillar! I found this little guy on my porch last week. And his wide brown band tells me . . . mild winter ahead.
(But I still signed a snow removal contract.)
(Because who the hell knows.)
I am just hoping that we get a cold enough that all the bulbs I am planting are able to do their thing in the SPRING!
XO
I just saw your post from yesterday….the houses are adorable! My mind is spinning with ideas on how you could display them.
As for the weather, we have already had one significant snowfall but it has almost all melted now with the temperatures in the 30s and next week up to the 50s. Crazy warm weather for November! I usually see at least one wooly bear but haven’t seen one at all this fall. So I can’t even get a forecast from nature.
I haven’t seen any wooly bears here yet, but I may have been interpreting them wrong all along anyway. My grandfather told me that the wider the center red band, the more snow we would have. But really, who the hell knows? 🙂
I find the best way to know the weather is to look out the window 🤣especially around here where we have convergence zones and hills and lakes. I am happy to have all the gear to cover my bases.
Based on the “country wisdom” gleaned from my grandfathers through the years, we are in for a colder than normal winter. We shall see.
Hoping we DO get some snow and some colder weather to keep down the bugs next spring, but not the kind of cold we had last Christmas. One day it was in the 80s and a few days later the temperature was 40 degrees in Steve’s office (and yes, the heat WAS on in the house). It was 14 degrees outside with a wind that would knock you over. Moderation in all things is my mantra.
I go with the wooly bear caterpillar, too! The last couple of years mine have had relatively even stripes and we’ve had relatively normal winters.
Haha. It’s definitely a crapshoot!! And you’re smart to sign that contract. 😉
I don’t put much stock in the weather predictions for a whole season, but I think our winters are going to keep getting milder. It’s been years since we had a really big snow here, and I’d be surprised if we had one this year. I do think, though, that if you hadn’t signed that contract, you’d be destined to get a lot of snow!
Definitely a crapshoot as Vicki says. I would love to get a good snowfall – I love to take walks in the snow. I would also like it to get cold enough to do damage to the ticks and other nasties we have. I have not seen any predictions for our area and I have not seen any of the wooly bear caterpillars either.
We bought a big falutin’ generator after several power outages last winter – therefore mild winter aheadand no need for it! 😉
Who the hell knows? I’ll drink to that.
Gotta love Michigan.
I go with it will be a mild winter….because you signed that snow removal contract. 🙂
Who the hello knows, indeed!