Worried about snow storms? Here's what this Japanese Elm tree forecasts for winter weather
Using signs in nature to predict winter weather can be a lot of fun and just maybe anywhere from 65-70% accurate.
The late Dick Frymire of Irvington, Kentucky, used a Japanese Elm tree, and a special "secret formula" built around it, to predict the winter weather forecast for the coming year. His forecasts gained worldwide recognition and he was featured on some national television shows including "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson."
Frymire passed away in 2013, but his family has continued his storied and fun winter weather tradition. After all, only they were handed down the secret formula used to read the Japanese Elm tree. And yes, we realize robins do not fly south for the winter, but the spotting of the "first robin" has always been part of the Frymire tradition, so in honor of Dick Frymire we keep it on the list.
Woolly worms and hedge apples: What is nature telling us about the winter weather forecast
Frymire Weather Service 2022-23 winter forecast:
Nov. 21: warm
Nov. 24: few snowflakes
Nov. 28: flurries
Dec. 4: rain turns to ice one-fourth inch
Dec. 8: one-inch snow
Dec. 18: three inches of snow
Jan. 3: very cold (nine degrees)
Jan. 8: five inches of snow
Jan. 15: sleet, half an inch of ice; 10 inches of snow
Jan: 21: snow melts, 44 degrees
Jan 26: five days of extreme cold, highs in the 20s
Feb. 2: heat wave, high of 50 degrees
Feb. 6: heavy fronts
Feb. 9: two inches of snow
Feb. 13: high 48 degrees
Feb. 22: six inches of wet snow, fast melt
March 7: first robin
March 10: three inches of snow, low 29 degrees
Reach Features reporter Kirby Adams at kadams@courier-journal.com.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Worried about snow storms? What this Japanese Elm forecasts for winter