Late Leaves

You cannot tell from the photo but these leaves are really blowing in a strong north wind.
This tree is in our back yard and blooms in the spring like a flowering plum. This is the first year since we've been here that the leaves haven't fallen after frost and snow.
I heard that if the leaves are still hanging on when the first snow arrives, it will be a cold winter.
No kidding?
They do seem to be gone from the adjoining tree. It blooms both pink and white and has little, inedible apricots that fall to the ground in late summer.