Winter Forecast?

A common question presented to me this time of year deals with how harsh or mild the upcoming Winter will be. El Nino is a decent indicator from year to year, but nothing worth betting the farm on. Computer models are iffy, and climatology is average at best, so our old friend Folklore must hold the key. For a cold winter check for the following: Bushy tails on squirrels, thick manes on horses, thick fur on deer, hornet's nests low to the ground, a hot August, a cold November, a windy Fall, lots of fog in August and October, trees that keep their leaves too long, a plethora of nuts and acorns on the ground, thick skin on onions and apples, persimmons that reveal a spoon shape when cut in half, large ant hills in late Summer, and of course, thin brown bands on woolly worms. If these prove inaccurate, Stay with CBS 6, We'll Keep You Ahead of the Storm.

Zach

Feels Like Fall

Fall doesn't officially start until Monday September 22, but it already feels like it! I walked outside a short while ago expecting to find some leaves on the ground. No such thing! So I need your help. Do you have any great photos showing the fall season beginning to arrive near your home? If so send them to me at JHaynes@wtvr.com.

The remainder of the day will be gray with some light showers popping up in the afternoon and early evening. Afternoon highs will only climb into the mid to upper 70s.

The Harvest Moon

The Harvest Moon, which occurred early this morning in central Virginia, is no doubt the most notable of full moons in today's society. It's defined as the full moon which occurs closest to the Autumnal Equinox (first day of Fall). The naming of the Harvest Moon can be traced back to the Native Americans, who had different names for full moons which coincided with harvesting periods or weather changes. Close to the start of Fall, the earth and the moon are oriented in such a way that the time of moonrise from one night to the next is shorter than in any other time of the year. In other words, for a few days on end close to the start of Fall, the moon rises right around nightfall. This provides a little extra light with which to finish the harvest, and is how the Harvest Moon got it's name.

Zach