Is there a way to tell if there's going to be a bad winter?

Question

In the book The Long Winter written by Laura Ingall's, an Indian told Pa and others that the winter ahead was going to be a harsh and long one. Pa agreed because he noticed animals preparing for it earlier and making extra steps by making their homes thicker. I was wondering if anyone knows of signs of how the winter ahead will be for a person who lives in town. Thank you.

Answer 1

I am not aware of a reliable sign of the intensity of an upcoming winter, though I have heard of many different local indicators, such as wooly worms and the such.  I think many times these signs are given credence when by chance they turn out right, and when they fail it just does not get remembered.