Foretelling the Weather With Folklore
Observing Common Things Can Predict Coming Weather
Nov 28, 2008
There is an old weather adage: Red Skies in the morning, Sailor take warning; Red Skies at night, Sailor delight. Those are not just words of the old folks, but based on fact. When the sky shows red in the evening it means that the air contains practically no moisture so the probability of rain in the next twenty-four hours is not likely. However, when the sky shows red in the morning it indicates excessive moisture in the atmosphere and it is likely to rain very soon.
Much of the information in this article is folklore but has a factual basis.
Clouds and Rainbows
Weather watching is a universal pastime but personal experience gathered here is based in the Midwest region of the United States. There are many sky signs to observe. A rainbow arriving late in the day indicates the weather will be fair, but if it comes early in the morning then it usually means another rain shower.
Clouds are a study all their own, the type of clouds in the sky are scientific indicators of what the weather will soon be. A serious weather watcher takes time to learn various cloud forms and what they mean. But a quick way to tell the weather by the clouds, without watching them for a long period of time, is to know that the higher the clouds, the better the weather. It goes without saying that when scattered clouds are parted by clear, blue skies you can be sure of fair weather. However, when there is a combining of clouds it should give pause as they warn a storm may be approaching.
Spiders and Other Crawling Things
Spiders making their webs can be an indicator of good or bad weather. Generally, if the day is fair and there is very little wind the spider's web will be long and loose. When it is going to rain they tighten the threads. If shrubbery is covered with spider webs it usually means you are in for a spell of fair, warm weather. This may be just folklore but certainly something to investigate.
Insects in general have their own weather behaviors. When a storm is approaching they will cling to window screens and become quite pesky. Flies generally bite just before a storm. This may occur because they can't fly as high when a change of weather is approaching and therefore choose their meals closer to the ground.
Birds that feed on the insects will be noticed lower to the ground too, not because they can't fly as high but because their dinner is there.
Smoke, Trees and the Moon
Smoke will drift upward if the weather is going to be fine and clear. When it begins to spiral downward look for a significant weather change. The moisture in the air brings it lower to the earth.
When a tree shows the underside of its leaves wet weather is on its way.
A circle around the moon, or a moon ring, is a sign of good weather but when a thin, tight cloud floats over the surface the fair weather is soon to end.
When sounds, like night bird calls, carry farther than normal rain is fast approaching.
Sources
Skills for Taming The Wilds by Bradford Angier, Stackpole Publishers, Harrisburg, PA, 1967
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