Windsmith
April 24th, 2008, 04:17 PM
My Witch's Almanac (my personal version of a Book of Shadows) has a section on weather lore - the stuff people used to predict the weather before computer-assisted meteorology. I was updating it today and suddenly said, "Hey! Why haven't I shared this with my pals at MW?"
So here you are. All of these come from the Old Farmer's Almanac.
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When the cow tries to scratch its ear
It means a shower is very near.
When it thumps its ribs with its tail,
Look out for thunder, lightning, and hail.
Dog Days [begin July 3] bright and clear
Indicate a happy year
But when accompanied by rain
For better times are hopes are in vain.
St. Swithin's Day [July 15] if thou dost rain,
For 40 days it will remain.
When spiders build new webs, the weather will be clear.
Listen for the sound of the first cicadas. The first frost of the year will occur about 3 months later.
An open anthill indicates good weather; a closed one, an approaching storm.
The sunflower raising its head indicates rain.
Clover contracts its leaves at the approach of a storm.
If corn husks are thicker than usual, a cold winter lies ahead.
If flowers keep open all night, the weather will be wet the next day.
The faster a cricket chirps, the warmer the temperature.
Lightning in the south is a sure sign of drought.
Bees will not swarm, before a near storm
When the down of a dandelion contracts, it is a sign of rain.
Lightning in summer indicates good, healthy weather.
If watercress beds steam on a summer evening, the next day will be hot.
Dust rising in dry weather is a sign of an approaching change.
Observe on what day in August the first heavy fog occurs, and expect a hard frost on the same day in October.
If the first week in August is unusually warm, the winter will be white and long.
If corn blades twist up, it will rain.
Folklore has it that the weather on each of the Ember Days foretells the weather for 3 successive months; that is, Wednesday, September 19 forecasts the weather for October; Friday, September 21 for November, and Saturday, September 22 for December.
If the geese on St. Martin’s Day [November 11] stand on ice, they will walk in mud at Christmas.
If the first snow sticks to the trees, it foretells a bountiful harvest.
If sheep feed facing downhill, watch for a snowstorm.
Always expect a thaw in January.
Fog in January brings a wet spring.
He who drops a coat on a winter day,
Will gladly put it on in May.
If on January 12th the Sun shine, it foreshows much wind.
Expect rain or snow when burning wood pops and sparkles.
If Candlemas [February 2] be mild and gay,
Go saddle your horses and buy them hay;
But if Candlemas be stormy and black,
It carries the winter away on its back.
If March comes in like a lion, it will go out like a lamb. If March comes in like a lamb, it will go out like a lion.
So many mists in March we see,
So many frosts in May will be.
In March much snow,
To plants and trees much woe.
A windy March and a rainy April make a beautiful May.
A dry March, a wet April. A wet March, a sad autumn.
Moist April, clear June.
A rainbow in spring indicates fair weather for the next 24 to 42 hours.
Expect rain if hens spread and ruffle their tail feathers.
When the down of a dandelion contracts, it is a sign of rain.
Dust rising in dry weather is a sign of an approaching change in the weather.
----
Does anyone else know any weather-prediction lore?
So here you are. All of these come from the Old Farmer's Almanac.
----
When the cow tries to scratch its ear
It means a shower is very near.
When it thumps its ribs with its tail,
Look out for thunder, lightning, and hail.
Dog Days [begin July 3] bright and clear
Indicate a happy year
But when accompanied by rain
For better times are hopes are in vain.
St. Swithin's Day [July 15] if thou dost rain,
For 40 days it will remain.
When spiders build new webs, the weather will be clear.
Listen for the sound of the first cicadas. The first frost of the year will occur about 3 months later.
An open anthill indicates good weather; a closed one, an approaching storm.
The sunflower raising its head indicates rain.
Clover contracts its leaves at the approach of a storm.
If corn husks are thicker than usual, a cold winter lies ahead.
If flowers keep open all night, the weather will be wet the next day.
The faster a cricket chirps, the warmer the temperature.
Lightning in the south is a sure sign of drought.
Bees will not swarm, before a near storm
When the down of a dandelion contracts, it is a sign of rain.
Lightning in summer indicates good, healthy weather.
If watercress beds steam on a summer evening, the next day will be hot.
Dust rising in dry weather is a sign of an approaching change.
Observe on what day in August the first heavy fog occurs, and expect a hard frost on the same day in October.
If the first week in August is unusually warm, the winter will be white and long.
If corn blades twist up, it will rain.
Folklore has it that the weather on each of the Ember Days foretells the weather for 3 successive months; that is, Wednesday, September 19 forecasts the weather for October; Friday, September 21 for November, and Saturday, September 22 for December.
If the geese on St. Martin’s Day [November 11] stand on ice, they will walk in mud at Christmas.
If the first snow sticks to the trees, it foretells a bountiful harvest.
If sheep feed facing downhill, watch for a snowstorm.
Always expect a thaw in January.
Fog in January brings a wet spring.
He who drops a coat on a winter day,
Will gladly put it on in May.
If on January 12th the Sun shine, it foreshows much wind.
Expect rain or snow when burning wood pops and sparkles.
If Candlemas [February 2] be mild and gay,
Go saddle your horses and buy them hay;
But if Candlemas be stormy and black,
It carries the winter away on its back.
If March comes in like a lion, it will go out like a lamb. If March comes in like a lamb, it will go out like a lion.
So many mists in March we see,
So many frosts in May will be.
In March much snow,
To plants and trees much woe.
A windy March and a rainy April make a beautiful May.
A dry March, a wet April. A wet March, a sad autumn.
Moist April, clear June.
A rainbow in spring indicates fair weather for the next 24 to 42 hours.
Expect rain if hens spread and ruffle their tail feathers.
When the down of a dandelion contracts, it is a sign of rain.
Dust rising in dry weather is a sign of an approaching change in the weather.
----
Does anyone else know any weather-prediction lore?