Pine cone season is underway meaning it won't be long until they scatter our streets, but did you know they can forecast the weather?

There is a commonly held conception 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 actually wrong, as trees can take up to three years to fully produce cones and vary their production each year.

So, if you want to see what conditions you can expect this weekend check the appearance of any pine cones you see around, which might give you a good indication.

Most pine cones fall from pine trees throughout the autumn season typically between August and December.

In addition to checking the weather, you can also use them for arts and crafts by creating an autumnal wreath or adding to the compost heap for a nutritional boost. For a more accurate forecast, be sure to check our daily forecast and keep up-to-date with the WeatherRadar.