By WILLIAM FELKER
Poor Will's Almanack Nov. 16-22, 2015 Weather trends The sixth cold front of the month, arriving around Nov. 24, often brings rain or significant snowfall as it approaches. After Nov. 25, the percentage of cloudy days almost doubles over the average for the rest of November. Overcast conditions begin to increase the likelihood for seasonal affective disorders and contribute to complications with harvest. This Nov. 24 weather system also marks the decline of average highs below 50 degrees, and the end to any reasonable chance of a day above 70 throughout the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic states. The natural calendar Nov. 16: The third week of late fall often brings the passage of sandhill cranes, the last flocks of bluebirds flying south, the full color of beech and pear foliage and the shedding of the silver maples, sycamores, red oaks and white oaks. Nov. 17: Nearly all leaves have fallen by this date. Trees that have held out until now suddenly turn color overnight. Nov. 18: Sunset is within just a few minutes of the earliest of the year; it will remain close to its earliest time until the second week of December, when it starts to set later in the evening. Nov. 19: During this period, late-season tornadoes often move across the Great Plains, and sundogs appear in the sky. Nov. 20: As more birds disappear south, the silence of late fall takes hold. Nov. 21: Colors deepen in the swamp. Protected by the water, cress brightens; dock and ragwort grow back beside the dead field grasses. Nov. 22: The sun enters Sagittarius on or about Nov. 22, having travelled more than 7/8 of its way from autumn equinox to winter solstice. In field and garden Nov. 16: Remove tops from everbearing raspberries. Cut back mums. Nov. 17: Stake young shrubs and trees. Wrap young transplants to protect them against frost cracking and rodents. Try to save your best quality feed supplies for the colder months. Use lower-grade feed early in November, gradually increasing nutrient value and quantity throughout the winter. Nov. 18: Work gypsum into the soil where salt, used to melt winter’s ice, may damage plantings. Fertilize pastures for improved winter hardiness and stimulation of growth in early spring. Nov. 19: Lawns have sometimes grown since their October cuttings, can be long and thick in warm, wet years. Nov. 20: New winter wheat can be tall enough by today to turn the fields green again. Nov. 21: The canopy of leaves continues to shed, revealing the high branches as well as the skeleton of the undergrowth. Deer, squirrels, turkeys and crows should be easier to spot in the daytime; opossums and raccoons, at night. Nov. 22: Bring parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme indoors for winter seasonings. |
