Winter helpers - How pine cones aid the weather forecast

Pine cone season is underway, and it won't be long until they scatter our streets, but is it true they can aid the weather forecast?

There is a commonly held conception that over 55% of the UK population believe that an open pine cone is a sign of good weather.

This statement is actually correct, in damp conditions the structure of pine cones become more flexible and have a ‘closed’ shape. This results in the scales absorbing moisture and shielding the seeds inside until better days arrive.

When dry conditions arrive, the outer parts of a pine cone’s scales become drier, resulting in the cone opening. Therefore, it is easy to check humidity levels based on their shape.

However, there is also an assumption that an abundance of pine cones in autumn means there is a cold winter to follow. This is incorrect, trees can take up to three years to fully produce cones and vary their production each year.

For a more accurate forecast, be sure to check our daily forecast and keep up-to-date with the WeatherRadar.