SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — There are plenty of old myths and stories about winter, whether it’s certain creatures being harbingers of bad weather or tales about the cold. Here’s a look at a new group of claims. It’s winter weather myth busting: Round 2.
Moon halo leads to winter weather?
We’ll start with a forecasting myth. If you see a halo around the moon at night, wintry weather is on its way. There’s some truth to this, but there’s also a catch.
Moon halos, also known as 22-degree halos due to the angle that light is refracted, are formed when cirrus clouds pass in front of the moon and the light is refracted through. Increasing high level cirrus clouds can be a sign of an approaching storm system, but that doesn’t always mean that moisture will be able to reach the ground — especially if the air is too dry.
We’ll call this one “Plausible”, since it’s not always a guarantee, but there’s at least some validity to it.
Eating snow keeps you hydrated?
Next, let’s do a pair of snow related myths. First up: Eating snow can keep you hydrated if you’re outside. On paper, this seems logical. After all, snow is just frozen water…right? Not quite…