Prospect of a cold winter

It is getting to that time of year when all the long range weather forecasts start to appear. Despite a mild (and lovely) Autumn so far, rumour has it that we are in for another harsh cold winter – possibly even colder than last year. This of course bodes well for those of us who enjoy skiing!

The evidence for this?

Well, firstly the holly bushes are apparantly weighed down with unusual amounts of berries, which is meant to signify a harsh winter to come.

Secondly, the waters around Cornwall have allegedly been cooler than usual this summer. Since these waters are fed by the gulf stream, and since the gulf stream keeps Europe warm during winter, then a cooler gulf stream could mean a colder winter.

I don’t know whether these are old wives’ tales or fact so if anyone can shed any light on the matter, I’d love to hear from you!