Weather Prediction

Weather Prediction

A weather charm I learned many years ago.

Thrust your knife into the ground with the blade facing the oncoming weather.

“Three angels ride the winds

to lands both far and near

Go west, go east, go south, go north

but do not linger here!”

Leave the blade in place until the weather has passed.

Weather signs and portents

Predicting the weather has long been an understood part of being a farmer or gardener. All of my life I’ve heard predictive bits of information from the people around me. I remember my grandfather always knew rain was coming because his back would hurt. Now, being a middle-aged man myself, I have that unfortunate ability!! Another way I can tell the weather is my ears swell shut. I have complex hearing issues and when my hearing aids prove useless, it means humid air and thunderstorms. See how powerful old age can be! :)

Weather prediction is fascinating to me. It’s not fool-proof, but it’s very interesting and accurate enough to get you through your day. If you are right with your predictions, then you can feel satisfied that you planned accordingly. If you are wrong, well, it happens to the best of us.

When the full moon has a halo around it, rain is expected.

When the ants stop working, rain is coming.

When the fish go into hiding, a hot sunny day is in the forecast.

A clear moon on a winter night predicts frost the next morning.

When pine cones are closed up, it means rain. When open, it means dry and sunny weather.

When your fire burns blue, a storm approaches.

Many crows gathered in one place portends a storm.

If the birds are up high in the trees, it means good weather. If they are on the low branches, it means rain.

Look for continued fair weather when:

A gentle wind blows from the west, north­west, or a little south of west.

The sun rises out of a gray sky.

The clouds are noticeably high for the sea­son.

The clouds rise on the mountains.

The clouds have frequent breaks showing blue sky between.

The puffy cumulus clouds show a lot of white.

The cumulus clouds decrease toward night­fall.

The winter sky is mottled with a northwest wind.

The summer morning fog breaks before ten o’clock.

The dawn is low.

Spiders spin on the grass.

There is a moderate dew or frost.

The temperature is normal or colder than normal, other signs being right.

The sky is sown with stars.

The moon rises clear.

The wind blows down mountain ravines after nightfall.

The salt is dry, smoke ascends, birds fly high, and animals act normally.

The barometer rises slowly, or is steady at or above 30.00.

No change need be feared as the anticyclone nears, or for three days after clear conditions are established so long as the wind remains brisk from some westerly quarter. The direction of the wind, the kind of cloud, and the temperature changes are the factors to watch if you have no barometer.

Look for a change toward storms when:

The west wind suddenly drops.

The west wind shifts to south or northeast.

The cirrus clouds appear in well-organized lines.

A halo appears around either the moon or sun.

After a thunderstorm if another is to follow.