COLUMBIA, S.C. — Have you ever observed their leaves turning upward right before a storm?
Leaves respond to an increase in humidity that typically comes before a storm. It is a unique way trees sense changes in the weather.
Leaves react when humidity rises, which often occurs before rain. According to the Farmer’s Almanac, the stems of leaves can become limp. This change in flexibility allows winds to easily flip leaves over, resulting in an upward-turning motion.
As trees develop, their leaves grow in alignment with the dominant wind direction. When winds from approaching storms counter the dominant wind, the force can cause leaves to flip.