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!

Is the coming winter going to be cold?

It was October and the Indians on a remote reservation asked their new Chief if the coming winter was going to be cold or mild. Since he was a Chief in a modern society he had never been taught the old secrets.

When he looked at the sky he couldn’t tell what the winter was going to be like. Nevertheless, to be on the safe side he told his tribe that the winter was indeed going to be cold and that the members of the village should collect firewood to be prepared.

But being a practical leader, after several days he got an idea. He went to the phone booth, called the National Weather Service and asked, “Is the coming winter going to be cold?”

“It looks like this winter is going to be quite cold,” the meteorologist at the weather service responded.

So the Chief went back to his people and told them to collect even more firewood in order to be prepared.

A week later he called the National Weather Service again. “Does it still look like it is going to be a very cold winter?”

“Yes,” the man at National Weather Service again replied, “it’s going to be a very cold winter.”

The Chief again went back to his people and ordered them to collect every scrap of firewood they could find.

Two weeks later the Chief called the National Weather Service again. “Are you absolutely sure that the winter is going to be very cold?”

“Absolutely,” the man replied. “It’s looking more and more like it is going to be one of the coldest winters ever.”

“How can you be so sure?” the Chief asked.

The weatherman replied, “The Indians are collecting firewood like crazy.”

End
White-Peak Ski Chalets