Weather Wisdom

In like a lion and out like a lamb. Rain before seven, quits by eleven. Rainy May dry July. Many of these bits of weather wisdom passed down from generation to generation are surprisingly accurate. By observing weather patterns and conditions, those before us gained a wealth of information on how to predict the weather rather well. 

Before modern technology and the 24-hour weather channel, folks needed to figure out for themselves what type of weather was on the way. The following is a list of some of the traditional sayings of yesteryear gathered by our ancestors:

Rain

• When the sugar maple leaves turn over, a rain shower is on the way
• Clover leaves will turn up just before a rain
• When the full moon is pale on rising, rain can be expected
• A halo around the moon means rain, the bigger the halo the sooner the rain
• If the sun comes out while it’s raining, it will rain the next day
• A morning rainbow is a sign of rain
• If a dog eats grass in the morning and shuns meat, rain is coming
• When grass is dry in the morning light, look for rain before the night. When dew is on the grass, rain will never come to pass.
• Watch for rain when distant sounds are long and sharp
• When cattle extend their necks and sniff the air, rain will come
• Rain long foretold long last, Short notice soon past
• If cattle out at pasture recline early in the day, rain is on the way
• When the stars begin to huddle, the earth will soon become a puddle
• If the rooster goes crowing to bed, he’ll wake up with a watery head

Storms

• When a cow bellows three times without stopping a storm is on the way
• A growing whiteness in the sky, storm approaching
• A solitary crow in flight means bad weather
• A halo around the sun means bad weather will come
• Stormy weather is on the way if ants move in columns
• Flies bite before a storm
• When a bird stops singing, listen for thunder
• Red sky in the morning is usually a storm warning
• When cattle and horses stay in close groups, a storm is coming
• When sun dogs (little halo type rainbows that peak from behind clouds) appear after fine weather, stormy weather will follow
• Evening red and morning gray send the traveler on his way. Evening gray and morning red brings rain down on his head.
• Rainbow at night, shepherd’s delight, Rainbow in morning, shepherd’s warning
• Sounds traveling far and wide, a stormy day will betide

Fair Weather

• Rainbow in the evening says fair weather will follow
• Soft fluffy clouds says fine weather on the way
• Red evening and morning gray are sure signs of a fine day
• If fireflies are plentiful, fair weather will follow for 3 days
• When horses and mules roll in the dirt and shake off, dry weather is here
• Steady rising barometer means fair weather
• Red sky in the morning is the sailor’s sure warning, Red sky at night is the sailor’s delight
• Wind from the west brings fine weather

Signs of Spring and Summer

• Thunderstorms that come before 7am in April and May foretell a wet summer
• If ants build small hills, it will be a hot and dry summer
• If the hay in the fields lean to the northeast, summer will be hot and long
• When trees split their bark in the winter, it will be a hot, dry spring

The Farmer’s Almanac is full of weather wisdom and is an essential resource to have on every homestead. I pick one up every year at Buchheit along with their calendar. In addition, a rain gauge and an outdoor thermometer are must-haves on our farm. We use the calendar to document each day’s weather and then refer back to this information to help forecast what’s ahead. Instead of depending solely on technology to find out if rain is coming, keep an eye on the sky and take note of the signs that nature is giving you to predict the weather!