Weather Predicting Folklore

As I grew up I used to wonder how my grandfather was able to predict what the weather would do before it actually happened. He would stand out in the back yard sniff the air, watch the animals, and just generally look around. Then he would turn and say "yep, it's going to be a bad storm coming our way."

I'd look up at the sky and see a beautiful blue sky with delicate puffy white cloud. "Grandpa, how do you know.?"

He would chuckle, pat my shoulder and simply say "I just know." Sure enough, the next morning would greet us with dark angry clouds and rain coming down in buckets. Luckily, he had prepared for the weather.

I thought he was magic. I didn't know how he could know what the weather would bring.

Many put down folklore weather predicting down to make believe stories or sayings that have been created to amuse one. There is more truth to the folklore sayings than you might believe. Folklore is directly based on observations of nature, the sky and the animals. For the men and women of the past their very life depended on being able to accurately predict the weather.

There are many, many different folklore sayings involving weather predictions. Some of them amusing and some of them based on good old common sense. I have included both types. Keep in mind as you read, these weather predicting folklore sayings are based on many years of watching animals and nature. Many of them are quite accurate.

• If birds sing in the rain, fair weather is coming.
• When herons fly up and down as if in doubt about where to nest, expect rain.
• If bears and horses get thick coats early, then expect a severe winter.
• When seagulls fly inland, expect a storm.
• When ants travel in a straight line, expect rain: when scattered, expect fair weather.
• When cats sneeze, it is a sign of rain.
• If wasps build their nests high, a severe winter is on its way.
• When pigs gather leaves and straw in all, expect a cold winter.
• If cows lie down and refuse to go to pasture, you can expect a storm to blow up soon
• Mare's tails and mackerel scales make tall ships take in their sails.
• If a rooster crows at night, there will be rain by morning.
• Locusts sing when the air is hot and dry.
• When toads appear in large numbers, you can expect rain.
• Squirrels are busier gathering nuts before a bad winter.
• When toads appear in large numbers, you can expect rain.
• Seagull, seagull sit on the sand, it’s never good weather when you’re on land.

• Red sky at morning, sailor take warning; red sky at night, a sailor's delight.
• If the sail no longer catches the wind, then expect a violent storm to blow up in just a few hours.
• Thicker acorn shells mean an extra-cold winter.
• When leaves show their back, rain we won't lack.
• When the chairs squeak, it's of rain they speak.
• When the bushes are full of berries, a hard winter is on the way.
• The brighter the fall foliage, the colder and snowier the winter ahead
• If salt pork turns sour, then be ready for a shower.
• When the wind is blowing in the East, tis not fit for man nor beast.
• The first frost of autumn will occur exactly six months after the first thunderstorm in the spring.
• Rain before seven, clear by eleven.
• When windows won’t open and the salt clogs the shaker, the weather will favour the umbrella maker!
• Smoke from a chimney flows toward or settles on the ground, it will be a harsh winter
• A mild winter precedes a cool spring.
• If you see lightning during the winter, it will snow in 10 days
• When ditches and ponds affect the nose, look for rains and stormy blows.
• If the moon rises red and appears very large, then rain is only a half day away.
• If trees produce a greater quantity of larger pine cones than usual it will be a severe winter.
• A dry summer means a cold winter.