What are the origins of this fun-filled festive custom?
Wild animals in the woods will almost always try to avoid you, so if they're running towards you it's likely they're fleeing from danger, which could include a wildfire. Follow their lead!
Some insects, like armyworm moths, cucurbit beetles, and potato aphids, react to an impending storm by becoming less active and saving energy.
If you're outside and you notice your hair is standing up, it may indicate that a lightning storm is coming. Just make sure you take the right precautions, and stay away from trees!
This sudden occurrence could indicate that a tsunami is coming your way, so it's best to head for higher ground.
If you see choppy waves forming into channels, and seaweed and other things being carried toward the horizon, it could indicate a strong riptide that could carry you far into the ocean in the matter of seconds.
Known by meteorologists as inflow bands, these clouds indicate severe weather, which may even include a tornado.
If you happen upon an unsavory smelling green cover on a lake or in the ocean, it's probably an algal bloom, which occurs due to an excess of nitrogen or phosphorus in the water and may be toxic. Do your best to avoid it!
When you see unusual swells crashing irregularly on the beach, this could mean that a tsunami is heading from the ocean towards the shore.
This strange phenomenon usually occurs before thunderstorms and sometimes before hail. Experts guess that the hue comes from sun rays mixing with the blue light from storm clouds.
If you see the water retreating from the beach at an unusually fast rate, head away from the shore and seek higher ground, as it could very well be a sign of an imminent tsunami.
These clouds especially signal severe storms if you see one start to turn on its axis, as that could yield a tornado. It's reportedly only warm funnel clouds, however, that are potentially hazardous.
That roaring sound could be the noise of a flash flood heading in your direction. Get to higher ground as soon as you can.
Killer trees perhaps aren’t at the top of your concerns, but a tree falling on your house could be fatal. Look for splits in the trunk or patches of missing bark, which indicate that the wood is unhealthy.
This interesting phenomenon occurs when two currents collide, forming a grid on the surface of the water. The waves seem gentle, but they are actually strong enough to steer swimmers, surfers, and even boats into unintended courses.
Halo-like circles around the moon are caused by the light's reflection on ice crystals in particularly high cirrus clouds. Cirrus clouds often precede severe weather, so don't spend too much time ogling at the eerie sight.
A strange odor, reminiscent of chlorine, may suggest a heavy thunderstorm on the way. The smell comes from the chemical reactions involved in thunderstorms.
This could mean a sinkhole is about to open near your house, especially if you're in a limestone-rich area. Call a surveyor to have a look at your home as soon as possible.
Tree leaves droop and turn over in the breeze when a storm is coming, due to the sudden increase in humidity.
These cumulonimbus formations are often signals of a thunderstorm on its way.
This large and often abrupt lowering of cloud, which develops beneath a cumulonimbus cloud, is primed for forming tornadoes.
Earth tremors are to be taken seriously everywhere, but especially if they’re near an active volcano, as it could signal an earthquake or volcanic eruption.
There's a good chance the fish were killed by something called red tide (a phenomenon caused by a toxic micro-organism), which looks like red algal scum on top of the water. Swimming isn't lethal, but you may experience nausea and breathing problems.
They could appear in the sidewalk, on the road, or on open ground, and they could indicate a landslide waiting to happen.
Academics at China’s Jiangxi Agricultural University found that bees increase their work activity the day before wet weather comes, as they make sure to collect enough nectar to last them through the storm.
Source: (Scribol)
See also: Fun, easy ways to help the bees.
Tsunami warnings can even be found more inland, with strange surges or fluctuations. It could also be a sign of an impending landslide.
The clouds that release hailstones but no rain tend to be associated with high winds that can churn out a tornado.
Of all the dangers in the world, natural disasters seem like the worst. Tsunamis, earthquakes, hurricanes, and other violent phenomena seem to regularly take their victims by surprise and with force, leaving immense destruction and loss in their wake.
Thankfully, there are at least a few warning signs that nature offers before a catastrophic event hits. Click through this gallery and learn about how best to predict when nature is about to strike.
If you experience a strange metallic taste in your mouth, or pinpricks on your skin, that could be a sign of an impending lightning strike.
Nature's warning signs before disaster strikes
Survival depends on how fast you react
LIFESTYLE Natural disaster
Of all the dangers in the world, natural disasters seem like the worst. Tsunamis, earthquakes, hurricanes, and other violent phenomena seem to regularly take their victims by surprise and with force, leaving immense destruction and loss in their wake.
Thankfully, there are at least a few warning signs that nature offers before a catastrophic event hits. Click through this gallery and learn about how best to predict when nature is about to strike.