Animals, people respond to changing weather patterns
Fall officially begins Sunday and people are already asking when the snow will start flying. I’ll answer this question in more detail next week, but at this point, it looks like another good year for skiers and snowboarders. Even the lower elevations should see a little more when compared with the last two winters.
About two months ago, a reader mentioned that the squirrels were gathering food much earlier than usual. She wanted to know if this meant a snowier-than-normal winter, or if the snow was going to arrive ahead of schedule.
According to folklore, when these furry little critters tuck away their winter food supplies by early October high in the trees, it’s supposed to mean that a long, cold winter is ahead. However, when squirrels eat nuts on the trees rather than storing them up for winter, the weather should be unusually mild during the normally frigid November-through-March period. Could this mean we’re on track for a snowy and cold winter, or are the squirrels gathering up the short supply of food that was the result of the very dry conditions? Time will tell.
In my many years of weather forecasting, it seems to me that animals, and humans, are sensitive to upcoming changes to overall weather patterns.
For example, when I resided in California, my mother would complain of aching hands before a major cool down or a large rainstorm. She could detect these changes about two to three days in advance and her accuracy was uncanny. She still lives in the Sacramento area, so I’m on my own up here.
I would also notice that my pets would become unusually hyper in advance of a major weather change. Other dog and cat owners would point out the same tendencies, especially just ahead of a thunderstorm’s arrival. On the other hand, when cats are friendly and purr and cuddle, it’s usually a sign of high pressure and fair weather.
Bird behavior has been related to weather changes for thousands of years. According to weather folklore, when birds stop singing, rain and thunder are on the way. If birds huddle on the wires, or together in the trees, the same conditions will occur.
By contrast, however, when birds flock together on the ground, it supposedly means that fair weather is in store. The rains are ending and they are going after the worms brought toward the surface.
When it comes to livestock, sheep are the best weather forecasters. If they scatter about and climb the hills, fair weather will persist. However, if they huddle together, bad weather is usually on the way.
As I mentioned last week, parts of the Inland Empire continue to suffer from the dusty effects of extreme drought conditions, approximately a one-in-20-year event. That’s why we’re still experiencing critical fire danger levels.
Longer term, it looks like precipitation totals will be increasing across our region. As mentioned last week, the cool and moist La Niña in the Pacific Ocean regions is actually strengthening. This should mean at least 20 to 40 percent more moisture than normal for October through December.
Since most of this added precipitation will be coming from the cool Gulf of Alaska, there’s a good chance that the nearby ski resorts may be able to open by Thanksgiving or early December.