Poetic Weather Forecasting

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Before we had modern technology to forecast weather, folks had relied on obervations of the natural world to see what weather was in store for them. Some of these methods are still with us today, if only in rhymes.

I think that it would be to experiment with them to see which ones are reliable or not. There is a list of weather proverbs that have teeth according to the Canadian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society. And below are some of my favourites that I grew up with:

Birds flying low, expect rain and blow.

Sound travelling far and wide, a stormy day betide.

Mackeral sky and mares' tails, make tall ships carry short sails.

If a cock crows upon going to bed, expect to wake with a watery head.

Clear moon, frost soon.

Red sky at night, sailors delight. Red sky in the morning, sailors take warning.

When clouds look like rocks and towers, we will be refreshed by showers.

If bees stay at home, rain will soon come. If they flay away, fine will be the day.

When a cow endeavors to scratch her ear, it means a rain shower is very near. When she thumps her ribs with an angry tail, look out for thunder, lightning and hail.

A cold and wet May, expect a barnful of hay.

When spiders' webs in air do fly, the spell will soon be very dry.

If February brings no snow or rain, tis not good for neither grass nor grain.

A ring around the sun or moon, means rain or snow coming soon.

When leaves show their undersides, be very sure that rain betides.

Feel free to share your own favourites in the comment section.

Sláinte!

Laurel