Is Mother Nature Giving Us Warning Signs of a Long, Cold Winter?

Tuesday morning on the WBKR morning show, Angel and I chatted with Eyewitness News meteorologist Ron Rhodes. We have both noticed that leaves seem to be falling really early this year.  Yes, we're getting close to Fall, but we're still experiencing blazing heat and humidity.  So, why are the leaves falling?  Ron then mentioned that he's noticed an abundance on pecans and hickory nuts falling too.  That's been long-believed to be an indicator of a long, cold winter.  So, is Mother Nature really trying to warn us of what's ahead?  I checked out the Farmers' Almanac and read their 20 Signs of a Hard Winter.  All I can say is "Uh oh!"

The Farmers' Almanac lists a variety of signs of a harsh winter.  Among them: pigs gathering sticks, thicker-than-normal corn husks, the early departure of geese and ducks and thick hair on the back of a cow's neck.

I have personally witnessed a couple of items on the Farmer's Almanac list myself in the last couple of weeks.

One of them . . . spiders spinning larger than usual webs and entering the house in great numbers.

I have a web that size right outside the door to our patio.  In fact, Kevin and I have noticed spider webs surrounding our house and trying to bust up in it.  And, honestly, we rarely notice spiders.  But there are a ton this year.

Another sign- heavy and numerous fogs in August.

We definitely have had our share of these.  When I was driving to Cincinnati a couple of weeks ago, the city of Louisville was basically under a blanket of fog around 7am.  It was nuts . . . and August!

Alexis Thompson called the WBKR studio this morning to let us know that her mom, Connie, has actually been keeping track of the thick August fogs we have had this month.  The total so far- five!  Allegedly, the thicker the fog in August, the thicker the snow in winter.

So, will the wives tales and folklore pan out?  Are we in for a cold and snow winter?  I suppose time will tell.