Mother Nature's Secret Weather Forecasting

An excerpt from my Natural Forecast article published in the TPWD Magazine

Many people think that forecasting the weather by nature's sights, sounds and smells is just folklore, but the truth is, this is an art rooted in science. Plants, including morning glory, chickweed, dandelions, wild indigo, clovers and tulips, close their petals in response to environmental conditions. They are prompted to close their petals before nightfall or a prior to a rainstorm as a defense mechanism to protect their pollen against moisture. This survival mechanism makes these plants readily accessible and reliable indicators of impending wet weather.

Similarly, changes in barometric pressure also affects the behavior of the flora around you. For instance, you can be assured there is a change in pressure when you see the leaves of a tree to "flip", so that their underside becomes visible.

Another reliable indicator of atmospheric moisture is the pinecone. Stiff and hardened when dry, the scales of the pinecone will protrude outward from the core. However, when moisture collects in the air, they will soften and lay together smoothly. This certain indication of moisture in the air is often associated with rain.

Flora is not the only indicator of weather changes. By becoming more in tune with nature, you can grow increasingly adept at predicting the weather through time-tested indicators that seamen, pioneers, farmers and woodsmen have relied upon for generations. These clues are all around you...

To access the full article, please visit the Texas Parks and Wildlife website at:

Skill Builder: Forecast by Nature|January/February 2015| TPW magazine