Spring 2012 predictions

[Payne]

Any predictions/educated guesses on how the upcoming Morel season is going to play out? I've heard mixed predictions (early Spring, late Spring, dry Spring, wet Spring). This Winter has been crummy, to say the least.

Just don't want a rapid warm up and refreeze a la Spring 2010.

Hope all are well,
P

[blitzfish]

Gonna have to see how the rest of the spring plays out. This winter was pretty weird and at least for all the really cold parts we had snow cover as insulation on the ground so far. Too early to say as always. Won't really know until they start popping up. I thought last year was gonna be a killer and it ended up being a "meh" year.

[omth]

Is it too early to start day dreaming though?

[mushroommike]

I am praying for another extended season....those cool temps kept morels from being sunburned and pushed finding them in S. Wisco to almost the second weekend in June.

[blitzfish]

If the extended 10 day forecast is true way may see our first buttons in the next week or two!

[aaron]

First wisconsin morels in mid-March? Wow, that's a pretty bold forecast. I predict to find my first between April 15-20.

It looks like national weather service predicts a spring with average precip and slightly above average temps.
www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/predictions//multi_season/13_seasonal_outlooks/color/churchill.php

It seems like we've had a lot of freezes and thaw-outs this winter which I think would loosen/aerate the soil and be good for plant/mushroom growth.

[ec rob]

I'm heading down south to Florida this weekend, driving through Georgia where it looks like some have been found already. I'll keep my eyes open. Would be nice to get an early start to the season, although I imagine the wife and kids won't let me take too much time to look.

[blitzfish]

FORCE THEM!!!! Ha ha ha

[Earthmom]

Hi morel freaks! I'm back on the board and I predict this spring will be the DA BOMB for morels! Probably another big snow fall or two this month/early April and that is fine because the precip would be welcome.

Another long EM story... My friend Joe Skulan has told me many times that it was too bad I didn't start morel hunting one year earlier than I did because that year was the most amazing morel year; that was spring 2006. I started in 2007. A couple months back I heard a report that the winter hasn't been this warm since 2006 so I did some research and that winter, 2005/2006, was basically like this past winter has been. I didn't take a look at how the precipitation amounts compared though...should have done that...but it could be that this spring will be DA BOMB! Or so I theorize anyway. Two years ago I found my first morels April 23rd. I think this year will be that early if things continue as they are.

DEF DAN - Should we do a "guess the date" sort of game on here where everybody guesses the day they think the first morel among the board members, will be found? Maybe two games where we guess the date of the first WI morel is found as well..using the "other" board too. But on that board there are so many nameless people who lie about it so...maybe the rules have to be with a current newspaper, or cell phone (can that be faked?) whatever.

[blitzfish]

Lets do it. I'm pushing my original guess back anyways... ha ha ha

[Payne]

April 22nd. Seems like as good a date as any.

[blitzfish]

I want to say March 25th. They already had their first in southwestern Indiana.

[Payne]

The winner of this guessing game gets a Morel Custard Pie... Earthmom?

[aaron]

A few days ago I posted that I'll be finding my first around April 15. Now I'm starting to think we'll be finding the big footed yellows by that date given the current weather forecast.

[blitzfish]

my thoughts exactly, unless we have what happened like 4 years ago where we had a mild winter and then a freeze again in April. Mild winter normally means warm/hot Spring and Summer.