"Heavy Snow"

Realize your foolish dreams,

May the snowflakes bloom.

It’s all because of the strong wind,

It blew down the sleeping cloud platform.

The "Heavy Snow" solar term usually falls on December 7th every year (it also falls on the 6th or 8th in some years). When the sun's ecliptic longitude reaches 255 degrees, it is "heavy snow", one of the twenty-four solar terms. Heavy snow, as the name suggests, means heavy snowfall. The ancients said: "The big one is prosperous, and the snow is prosperous at this point." During this period, the snow often falls heavily and covers a wide area, hence the name heavy snow.

At this time, the minimum temperature in most areas of our country has dropped to 0℃ or below. Often in areas where warm and cold air meet at the front of strong cold air, heavy snowfall or even blizzards will occur. It can be seen that the heavy snow solar term refers to the starting time and snow amount of heavy snow during this period. It is the same solar term as light snow, rain, Guyu and other solar terms, which directly reflects precipitation.

In ancient my country, heavy snowfall was divided into three periods: "In the first period, cuckoos and gulls do not cry; in the second period, tigers begin to cross; in the third period, lychees come out." This means that due to the cold weather at this time, the birds are also calling in the cold. The tiger stopped whining; because this is the period when the Yin energy is at its peak, as the saying goes, the Yang energy has sprouted, so the tiger began to engage in courtship behavior; "Li Ting" is a kind of orchid, and it also feels the Yang energy People often say, "Auspicious snow heralds a good harvest." Snow covers the ground in severe winter, which can keep the temperature on the ground and around crops from falling too low due to cold waves, creating a good overwintering environment for winter crops. When the snow melts, it increases soil moisture content, which is needed for crop growth in the spring. In addition, the nitrogen content in snowwater is five times that of ordinary rainwater, and it also has a certain fertilizing effect. Therefore, there is a farmer's proverb: "This year, you will be covered with a three-layer wheat quilt, and next year you will sleep with a steamed bun on your pillow."

During the heavy snow season, except for the winter-free areas in South China and southern Yunnan, the vast land of our country is covered with winter attire. The average temperature in the Northeast and Northwest regions has dropped to -10°C, and the temperature in the Yellow River Basin and North China has also stabilized below 0°C. In years with normal climate, snow has appeared in the Yellow River Basin and areas to the north, and winter wheat has stopped growing. After the heavy snowfall, the south of the Yangtze River enters the midwinter season. The temperature drops significantly in various places, and freezing phenomena often occur. "After the heavy snowfall in the winter solstice, the water in the basket does not leak" is a true portrayal of this time. However, this is not always the case in some years. The temperature is higher and there is no freezing phenomenon. , often causing heavy rain in the later period. Wheat and rapeseed are still growing slowly in the Jianghuai and south areas. Pay attention to applying wax fertilizer to lay a solid foundation for safe wintering and growth in the coming spring. As wheat in South China and Southwest China enters the tillering stage, tillering fertilizers should be applied in combination with cultivating, and attention should be paid to ditch clearing and drainage of winter crops. Although the weather is cold at this time, the stored vegetables and potatoes must be inspected frequently and ventilated in a timely manner. The cellar must not be closed too tightly to avoid excessive temperature rise and excessive humidity, which may lead to cellar rot. The temperature should be kept as low as possible without freezing damage.

During the heavy snow season, people should pay attention to the meteorological station’s forecast of strong cold air and low temperatures, and pay attention to keeping warm and cold. Effective measures must be taken for overwintering crops to prevent freezing damage. Pay attention to keeping livestock protected from freezing and warm.