Kevin's winter weather forecast

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - Each year, my winter forecast is a labor of love and a challenge, especially trying the most likely times for rain or snow.

This is skill I will probably take to my grave. The signs are all around us, if we know were to look. In my opinion, predicting the weather by natural signs is a lost art and the knowledge could be completely lost within the next two generations. If you know these signs, tell your children or grandchildren. Let's keep this natural approach and keen observation of the natural world around us alive.

Science prides itself by forecasting with complicated maps and charts. Scripture tells us that long before science, there were signs placed in the sky about the seasons and those cycles are part of Earth's natural course.

So, with that in mind, I look at these signs to determine my winter forecast. The looseness on a corn husk, the size of an acorn, the size of a squirrel's tail and astrological signs.

I expect the winter to be slightly warmer than average.

November
Nov. 23 to 30 The last week of November could bring the final few rumbles of thunder for the season. Then it could be windy and colder. There could be a few flurries on Thanksgiving.

December
Dec. 2 Full " cold" moon
Dec. 4 Moon at perigee
Dec. 4 to 7 Our first real chance for snow will come.
Dec. 8 to 15 Partly cloudy with occasional flurries and cold
Dec. 13 Geminid meteor shower
Dec. 18 Islamic New Year
Dec. 21 Winter Solstice
Dec. 16 to 22 Calm and dry. Generally clear.
Dec. 23 to 24 A chance for snow. Some accumulation could mean a white Christmas.
Dec. 25 to 31 White Christmas possible.
Dec. 26 Kwanzaa begins. Colder and breezy. Dry and sunny.
Dec. 30 Full "blue" moon.

January
Jan. 1 to 4 Cold with snow developing, then turning warmer.
Jan. 5 to 11 Becoming cloudy and breezy, with a chance for sleet. Ice and snow near the 11th.
Jan. 12 to 16 Cloudy, with sloppy winter mix continuing. Temperatures about average.
Jan. 17 to 31 Full "wolf" moon with moon at perigee on the 30th.
Jan. 28 to 31 Partly cloudy. Then a wintry mix possible. Snow to the north. Sleet and freezing rain to the south. Generally sloppy.

February
Feb. 1 to 3 The ground hog will not see his shadow. Unsettled weather will gradually become calm.
Feb. 4 to 12 Calm and sunny. Warmer than average.
Feb. 14 Valentine's Day and Chinese New Year.
Feb. 13 to 16 A return to winter with a possible snowstorm and the heaviest accumulation for the season. Windy and colder.
Feb. 17 Ash Wednesday
Feb. 16 to 20 Partly cloudy and cold with temperature returning to average, then slightly above.
Feb. 21 to 28 Becoming unsettled. A chance for snow and a wintry mix of precipitation.

March
March 1 to 4 A clam start, but a chance for rain or snow near the 3rd and 5th. It could become wintry and sloppy.
March 11 to 17 Warmer and wet. And early season thunderstorm is not out of the question, otherwise, a wintry mix can be expected.
March 17 to 28 Calm and warmer than normal.
March 28 Palm Sunday
March 28 to 31 The month ends with thundershowers, then a chance for wet snow.