Demystified! 5 Weather Myths You May Have Heard In North Dakota

Prior to the advent of modern weather prediction, individuals in North Dakota and globally relied on many techniques to anticipate forthcoming weather conditions, particularly during the winter season.

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We have examined five winter weather myths in order to ascertain their veracity.

1. FOGGY CONDITIONS MEANS MOISTURE IS AHEAD

MYTH: One old wives' tale says that every foggy August day equates to a day of snowfall in the coming winter, just as fog in the winter equates to rain coming in the spring.

FACT: The rain 90 days after fog legend is a pure myth. Fall and spring times are generally more conducive to rainy weather, but there is no 1 to 1 correlation between the fog like we have been seeing lately and what is going to happen in early April.

2. COVER YOUR HEAD

MYTH: Another old wives' tale that has been taught in schools and safety training is that up to 90% of the heat from your body escapes from your head, making it the most important thing to cover up when the temperatures dip.

FACT: You do not lose most of your body heat through the head. This myth most likely came from experiments in the 1950s, when military researchers exposed subjects to frigid temperatures. In reality, only around 7% of your body heat escapes from your head, but you should still cover up to protect your ears and skin, as well as stay stylish.

3. FEEL IT IN YOUR BONES

MYTH: Some people are able to feel weather changes in their bones and get an early warning that a storm is on the horizon.

FACT: Actually, it's true, and here's why. Changes in barometric pressure and temperature can dramatically affect our bodies, especially if we have arthritis. Therefore, you can feel the weather in your bones.

4. IS COLOR THE KEY?

MYTH: Some people believe that the brighter the leaves are in the fall, the snowier and colder the coming winter will be. The amount of moisture a plant receives during the growing season is just one factor that affects leaf color. However, once the days get shorter and the temperatures drop in the fall, the amount of chlorophyll in the leaves decreases, causing the changes in leaf colors we see in the fall.

FACT: Not true, If there are frequent extreme weather changes early enough, the leaves might not last on the trees long enough before they’ve had the time to change. The brightest, longer-lasting fall colors usually happen during periods of dry and calm sunny days through late summer and cool, clear, frost-free fall nights, and they are not a harbinger of what is to come.

5. PIG SPLEEN PREDICTING

MYTH: This one comes from our neighbors in Canada. Some people believe you can get an accurate 6-month forecast from examining the spleen of a pig. The spleen is examined to forecast the coming weather. It is divided into six sections, representing the coming six months and changes in thickness and forecast changes in weather.

Fact: You'd be better off reading Poutine to tell your fortune.