5 Natural Signs That A Rough Winter Is Coming to Illinois

Some weather forecasters are predicting Winter will be pretty mild in Illinois this year, while others say it will be "bitterly cold", but what is nature predicting? You might not like what it has to say.

2023 Winter Predictions

Every year when October rolls around we start to wonder what the upcoming winter weather will be like.

Will our faces be freezing off?

Will we be covered in multiple feet of snow for months on end?

Will it be a mild and delightful winter that we'll want to repeat for years to come?

We may never know what to expect from winter until it officially arrives, but if you put a lot of hope into expert predictions, take a look at some that happen in nature.

Winter Weather Predictions to Look For in Nature

Old wives' tales say that several things in nature can predict what winter conditions will be like each year, and one of the most common ones is squirrels.

Some years during the fall my Dad will spend hours every single day, (I kid you not), cleaning up acorns and branches the squirrels have knocked out of their front yard tree, and this year happens to be a frantic squirrel year for him. Those bushy little rats even gnawed up the edge of my parents' new metal outdoor dining table...

So...do squirrels just super hate the Zimmerman family, or are squirrels in fact acting crazy all over the Stateline this fall?

Of course, I had to hop on Google to find out, and that's when I came across an article from The Old Farmer's Almanac that said;

Squirrels gathering nuts in a flurry,
Will cause snow to gather in a hurry.

In addition, a tough winter is ahead if squirrels’ tails are very bushy.

I haven't paid much attention to squirrel tails lately, but I do know their annoyance factor is off the charts this year, so are we in for heaps of snow this winter?!?

The Old Farmer's Almanac article also said some other signs of a bad winter ahead include:

 - Flowers blooming in late autumn

- Corn husks are thicker than normal and tight

- Apple skins are tough

- Berries and nuts are plentiful

Have you noticed any of these signs near your home this fall?

Considering my parents' hectic squirrel problem, I'm not feeling very optimistic that the current mild winter weather predictions for 2023/2024 will actually come true.