Farmers' Almanac says spiders and other nature signs hint at harsh UK winter

Mixed · 2The Daily Express and the Daily Mirror, both in articles by Jane Lavender on 15 October 2026, reported that the Farmers' Almanac suggests natural signs point to a harsh winter in the UK. 1 2 Mixed · 2One of the signs is seeing more spiders in the home or larger-than-usual webs. 1 2 Left · 1The Mirror also lists other Almanac indicators, including woodpeckers sharing a tree, early departure of geese and ducks, more acorns than usual, squirrels gathering nuts early, thicker onion skins and halos around the sun or moon. 2

Mixed · 2Both describe the Almanac as a publication founded in 1818 that is used to forecast weather months ahead and also covers planting and fishing days, folklore, recipes and remedies. 1 2 Mixed · 2Both articles say experts dispute the spider sign: Geoff Oxford of the British Arachnological Society said in 2012 that the large house spiders seen in autumn have probably lived indoors all along, and Rob Crawford of the Burke Museum in Seattle (spelled 'Seattle Burk Museum' in both articles) said the spiders seen are usually sexually mature males looking for mates in late summer. 1 2 Mixed · 2As background, both quote the Met Office, via Wales Online, saying winter 2025–26 had above-average temperatures and rainfall: the UK recorded 113% of average winter rainfall, England had its eighth wettest winter in records from 1836, and Scotland was drier at 86% of average. 1 2

Mixed · 2The Met Office review cited four named storms, including Goretti, Ingrid and Chandra, and said Cornwall and County Down had their wettest Januarys on record; both outlets add that England had its warmest winter since records began in 1884. 1 2 Mixed · 2Neither article cites a Met Office seasonal forecast for winter 2026–27, so the Almanac's folklore-based signs are the only outlook offered. 1 2