WEATHER LORE
and PROVERBS
For centuries,
shepherds
and sailors - people whose lives and livelihoods depended on the
weather
- relied on lore to foretell tomorrow's weather. They showed a keen
sense
of observation and quickly connected changes in nature with rhythms or
patterns of weather.
Farmers watched
cloud movement
and the sky colour to know when to sow and reap. Mariners noted wind
shifts
and watched wave motions for signs of change. Hunters studied the
behaviour
of insects and animals and, through repeated observation, learned to
foretell
the weather. They recalled what they saw in the form of short sayings,
often embodied in rhyme for ease of memory. The beliefs of thousands of
people were passed down from generation to generation, altered by the
wisdom
of the times. They became part of culture and education and came to the
New World and to different climates with the waves of migration.
Many weather
proverbs are
nothing more than familiar rhymes, lighthearted ditties or imaginative
contradictions. Some have survived the test of careful observation and
scientific reasoning to become reliable guides to coming weather
change.
Only those sayings that prophesy daily change, usually pertaining to
sky
appearance, cloud movement or wind change, have any hope of success.
Lore
involving key dates or anniversaries or suggesting monthly or seasonal
change can only be right by chance.
Old weather
proverbs and
saws have their inception in atmospheric conditions. Properly
interpreted,
these conditions give accurate information on what is likely to happen
in the next few hours. For instance, a red sky means rain or dry
weather
according to the time of the day it occurs. The principle is based on
certain
optics and conditions of the atmosphere. Another example: smoke
hovering
near the surface of the ground indicates heavy moisture in the air.
When
it ascends straight up there is little likelihood of rain.
Among the more
reliable weather
proverbs are:
The moon and
the weather
may change together,
But a change of
the moon,
will not change the weather.
A ring around
the sun
or moon, means rain or snow coming soon.
When grass is
dry at morning
light
Look for rain
before
the night.
Dew on the
grass, rain
won't come to pass.
Sea gull, sea
gull, sit
on the sand,
It's never good
weather
while you're on the land.
When sea-gulls
fly to
land, a storm is at hand.
Rain before
seven, fine
before eleven.
Evening red and
morning
grey, two sure signs of one fine day.
The sudden
storm lasts
not three hours
The sharper the
blast,
the sooner 'tis past.
The higher the
clouds
the better the weather.
Cold is the
night when
the stars shine bright.
Sound
travelling far and
wide, a stormy day betide.
When the
forest murmurs
and the mountain roars,
Then close your
windows
and shut your doors.
When leaves
show their
undersides, be very sure that rain betides.
Chimney smoke
descends,
our nice weather ends.
When the night
goes to
bed with a fever, it will awake with a wet head.
When stars
shine clear
and bright,
We will have a
very cold
night.
When the ditch
and pond
offend the nose,
Then look out for
rain
and stormy blows.
Three days
rain will empty
any sky.
The farther
the sight,
the nearer the rain.
Rain long
foretold, long
last,
Short notice,
soon will
pass.
The sharper
the blast,
the sooner 'tis past.
If bees stay
at home,
rain will soon come,
If they flay
away, fine
will be the day.
The first and
last frosts
are the worst.
When clouds
look like
black smoke a wise man will put on his cloak.
A rainbow
afternoon,
Good weather
coming soon.
A rainbow in
the morning,
is the shepherd's warning
A rainbow at
night is
the shepherd's delight.
When the
chairs squeak,
it's of rain they speak.
Catchy drawer
and sticky
door,
Coming rain will
pour
and pour.
The winds of
the daytime
wrestle and fight,
Longer and
stronger than
those of the night.
Dust rising in
dry weather
is a sign of approaching change.
Sun sets
Friday clear
as bell,
Rain on Monday
sure as
hell.
No weather's
ill if the
wind be still.
The squeak of
the snow
will the temperature show.
When smoke
hovers close
to the ground, there will be a weather change.
When down the
chimney
falls the soot
Mud will soon be
underfoot.
When the sun
shines while
raining,
it will rain the
same
time again tomorrow.
When the wind
blows from
the west, fish bite best.
When it blows
from the
east, fish bite least.
If salt is
sticky,
And gains in
weight;
It will rain
Before too late.
Red sky at
night, sailor's
delight;
Red sky in
morning, sailor
take warning.
When clouds
appear like
rocks and towers,
The Earth's
refreshed
by frequent showers.
When the wind
is in the
east, 'tis neither good for man nor beast.
The more cloud
types present,
the greater the chance of rain or snow.
* When a cow tries to
scratch its ear ... It means a shower is very near.
Compiled by:
David Phillips
Senior Climatologist
Environment Canada
August, 1997
* CMOS Bulletin, April 2003
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