Sea Turtels, Stinging Flies and Hurricanes

[GoneWiththeWind]

I had read that there were less turtle nest counted and registered this year. There were a few years that the turtles stayed away form the beaches. This may be a strange and very blonde question, should we be watching the sea turtles? Maybe they know something we don't. There were other years that there were fewer nest, could those years of been bad hurricane years too? Does something in their enivronment appear that we don't see but they do? I believe in the old 'Wives' Tales' for some weather related things but maybe we should study and watch our animal friends too as weather perdiction centers.

You old timer's out there, Do your remember the stinging flies on the bech before a hurricane story? This happened to me once while at Kitty Hawk in September 1984. On a Monday I went to the beach and the flies were every where, the only way to get away from them was to get out in the water away from the beach. Those suckers hurt. Coming out and old resident, maybe in his eighties, told me that bititng flies meant that a hurricane was coming, sure enough the following Monday I was crossing the sound and EBS came on the radio telling folks to get off the cape.

Anyone know of other weather signs?

[Sean in New Orleans]

Here's a hurricane sign...heavy occurrences of tropical systems predicts an especially cold winter. Many of today's younger weather scientists are out to disprove these types of "sayings," as they are raised in the computer generation. Computers definitely don't know everything--especially when it comes to these types of beliefs. I, for one, put more belief in these phenomenas by nature, than man-made computer programs. Mother Nature vs. Man...Mother Nature wins by a landslide..remember this!!

[HurryKane]

Yay, I can dig out my sweaters for once!

Ok, nevermind, I know that means it will bite for the rest of the country.

[GoneWiththeWind]

The animals around here are bushier than normal! I know someone with miniature horses and they were already getting their winter coats last month, they are getting even fuzzier now!

I smelled the ocean yesterday and I don't have to look at radar to know that there is a hurricane out there and that it's leftovers are headed this way. Before Charley, Frances and Ivan the smell of the ocean was in the air here too, not all the time, but in burst.

Wonder if the snow will be around here too? El Nino is gearing up, meaning lots of moister to feed into colder air.

The hurricanes all have been strong ones, so I agree with you Sean of NO!

[HollynLA]

Mother Nature vs. Man...Mother Nature wins by a landslide..remember this!!

That's the statement of the season! I couldn't agree more. If we step back and take a look at the bigger picture, we are just so small in the whole scheme of things. That's what amazes me most about weather.

[Guest]

Interesting.

[webke]

I had not even given it a thought but the winter after Hugo came through the Myrtle beach area had it's first White Christmas in 70 years, all 18" of stayed around for over a week.

[greeng13]

Here's a hurricane sign...heavy occurrences of tropical systems predicts an especially cold winter. Many of today's younger weather scientists are out to disprove these types of "sayings," as they are raised in the computer generation. Computers definitely don't know everything--especially when it comes to these types of beliefs. I, for one, put more belief in these phenomenas by nature, than man-made computer programs. Mother Nature vs. Man...Mother Nature wins by a landslide..remember this!!

i've definitly heard that one before...and it seems to be true...and yes mother nature does win by a landslide!

[gatorbabe79]

I don't know if it's my imagination or not, but I can tell by watching the insect behavior around my house if we are going to be hit severely. The ants, wasps, etc. were all very active up til a a couole of days ago when it became more apparent that we would not get a direct hit from Jeanne. Then they just chilled out, and went back to normal if that's an expression I can use for them. I know my Lab can tell me when severe weather is approaching. Some kind of internal barometer? I am sure the entomologists can tell me.

[cswitwer]

Folly Beach, SC has fewer nests than normal (http://www.follyturtles.com) but it's hard to gauge whether it's development destroying the habitats, weather patterns, or more deaths due to boat traffic and pollution, etc... that causes the decrease on small, local levels.

But I wouldn't be surprised if the Turtles Know.

[kevin]

*blinks*

Don't walk under a ladder! just kididng

[Anonymous]

Anyone remember all the hurricanes in the 1995 tropical season?

That winter was BRUTAL, particularly in the Mid Atlantic and Northeast.

Sure I'm -removed-, yeah I'm certifiably crazy about snow here in N VA.

But there have been a lot of hurricanes this season too.

Hmmmm.........maybe another BIG snow year for the Mid Atlantic and Northeast in 2004-2005......


Naaahhh.......we have a weak El Nino this season, Mid Atlantic will get cold but TONS of rain, rain, and still more rain.

[HollynLA]

Come to think of it, the winter of 95/96 was even considered extreme in south LA. We had record lows and even some days with sleet and frozen rain. Hmmm, maybe we'll see some snow this winter?? nahhhhh

[Sean in New Orleans]

Come to think of it, the winter of 95/96 was even considered extreme in south LA. We had record lows and even some days with sleet and frozen rain. Hmmm, maybe we'll see some snow this winter?? nahhhhh

We're overdue in New Orleans for a good snow...we haven't had a decent snow since 1989...

[PTrackerLA]

Come to think of it, the winter of 95/96 was even considered extreme in south LA. We had record lows and even some days with sleet and frozen rain. Hmmm, maybe we'll see some snow this winter?? nahhhhh

I remember that well Holly. In Feb. of 96 it hit 16 degrees in Lafayette. I also remember having a bit of freezing rain followed by snow flurries while the temp dropped into the 20's one afternoon. That was the coldest temps we've seen since the early 80's. I'm hoping for a cold winter so we'll see if this theory holds!

[Dee Bee]

I don't know if it's my imagination or not, but I can tell by watching the insect behavior around my house if we are going to be hit severely. The ants, wasps, etc. were all very active up til a a couole of days ago when it became more apparent that we would not get a direct hit from Jeanne. Then they just chilled out, and went back to normal if that's an expression I can use for them. I know my Lab can tell me when severe weather is approaching. Some kind of internal barometer? I am sure the entomologists can tell me.

Just before Frances hit, I also noticed more insect behavior here in South Palm Beach County-- especially by spiders! -- and then the same the days before Jeanne stormed in late last night/early this morning. I'm curious, too.

[FritzPaul]

Come to think of it, the winter of 95/96 was even considered extreme in south LA. We had record lows and even some days with sleet and frozen rain. Hmmm, maybe we'll see some snow this winter?? nahhhhh

We're overdue in New Orleans for a good snow...we haven't had a decent snow since 1989...

Sean, do you remember that freak storm in march of 93? I remember going to rent a video, and when I came out it was sleeting. Then next I went to the grocery, and when I came out it was snowing!

That storm caused hurricane conditions in FL, and I think when it went up north it turned into a N'easter, causing a major ice storm in ME.

It's rare to snow here in NO, but in march that was crazy.

[HollynLA]

Sean, do you remember that freak storm in march of 93? I remember going to rent a video, and when I came out it was sleeting. Then next I went to the grocery, and when I came out it was snowing!

That storm caused hurricane conditions in FL, and I think when it went up north it turned into a N'easter, causing a major ice storm in ME.

It's rare to snow here in NO, but in march that was crazy.

Oh I remember that one! The ice/snow happened the day before my senior prom and my dress was strapless, eeeeek!!

[GoneWiththeWind]

That was the Blizzard we had here in '93. It was dubbed the Storm of The Century!

This thread seems to have sparked some interest and it certainly has been fun.

Anymore therories on reading nature-vs-computers?

[Ixolib]

What about this one - pecan trees LOADED down. Before Elena, they were loaded, then before Georges, they were loaded again. This summer, the one in my front yard was so loaded with pecans that a huge limb broke off from the weight....

And a new one I've never seen before - Humming Birds EVERYWHERE. I've lived in Biloxi all my 47 years and never have I seen so many humming birds here...