An ancient tree in Shizhu county, Chongqing is able to accurately predict the weather according to the locals who rely on its forecasting abilities.
According to People’s Daily, the tree is 60 meters tall and has a diameter of three meters at its chest level.
“The villagers usually depend on the tree to predict the weather and prepare their work. Nine out of ten times of the predication is accurate.” said Tang Wenqu, a 92-year-old local villager.
A large section of the trunk is hollow and can hold more than 10 people standing inside. From inside, people can predict what the weather will be through the top, whose size is as big as a bowl.
If mist is seen flying around the tree hollow on sunny days, rain can be expected in two days. If clouds are seen through the hole on rainy days, clear days can be expected soon.
Tang says that the locals don’t know how old the tree is or who planted it. According to an official from the local forestry bureau, the tree is probably several hundred years old.
An expert from the local meteorological bureau explained that the tree’s predictive abilities actually have some basis in science. As temperatures between the inside and outside of the trunk vary, the formation of condensation can offer a guide to incoming weather systems.
By Lucy Liu