Weather Lore

[islayhawk]

Does anybody know any old weather sayings.
I remember hearing one which said :- Ash before the Oak, we are in for a soak. Oak before the Ash we are in for a splash. (This of course related to the weather for the Summer) .Cats more active meant rain. Bats flying after sunset meant fair weather. Swallows skimming the ground also meant foul weather
These sayings were probably more accurate than our TV forecasts who never seem to get it right

Regards

Islay Hawk

[Tinkerbell]

This could be an interesting thread and only time will tell if some of the lore will be accurate. It is sometimes said that an excess of berries indicates a cold hard winter to come. (An old farmer we met said - It just means there's an excess of berries!).

Tinkerbell

[Suffolk-Chris]

I remember frequently being told by my parents "Rain before seven, fine by eleven"..... usually on holiday looking out at a grey, wet day and wondering if the tent was going to float.....

[agrumpycow]

I guess one of the most famous ones is Red sky at night, shepherd's delight;
red sky in the morning, shepherd's warning. But one of my favourites is (and no good if you've had one too many!)
Whether the weather be hot,
or whether the weather be not,
we'll weather the weather, whatever the weather,
Whether we like it or not!

[The Black Rabbit]

"Be it dry or be it wet
The weather will always pay its debt"

(In which case, prepare for a rain-free Indian Summer!

TBR.

[The Black Rabbit]

Originally Posted by agrumpycow

I guess one of the most famous ones is Red sky at night, shepherd's delight;
red sky in the morning, shepherd's warning.

I remember a comedian doing a spot on that saying...

Red sky at night, shepherds delight
Red sky in the morning, Shepherds warning
Minced lamb and mashed potato, Shepherds pie!

TBR

[Jay77]

Cheerful one in the paper this morning -

"If the first of July be rainy weather,
It will rain more or less four weeks together"

I've never heard it before but I suspect it will be true!

[The Black Rabbit]

I've always been interested in these. My Dad taught me most of them.
Some more I can remember...

A sunny shower won't last half an hour

Rain from the east, will last 3 days. At least.

When the Stormcock (Mistle thrush) sings, facing the wind, harsh weather he'll surely bring

If a fly lands on your nose - swat it 'til it goes. If it lands again, it will bring back with it rain

One Swallow does not make a summer

Rook nests high - season dry, nests in the boughs - furrowed brows

Mackerel sky, mackerel sky, never long wet, never long dry

Ice in November, to hold a duck, the rest of winter'll be slush an' muck

Near ring (moon ring) - far rain, far ring - near rain.

The last one regarding the ring around the moon seems to be very accurate indeed. Some people suggest the number of stars contained within the moon's ring are indicative of the number of hours left before it rains. Less accurate!!!
TBR

[Tormentil]

I thought "Red sky at night" meant the shepherds house was on fire !!

[epops]

If red sun beguins its race, be sure the rain will fall apace

When clouds of the morn to the west fly away,you maybe quite sure of a fine settled day

Mackerel sky,Mackerel sky,never long wet never long dry

when goats hairs are flying,it means winds are drying

Angry cloud with edges that glower that means thunder within the hour

sorry these are a few from a book i got but me dad used to swear buy them and so did grand dad when he was a horse man on the farm the book buy the way is just ageneral note book that me grand dad used to jot down various things theres loads more stuff and it makes good reading so maybe i'll post some more stuff if anyones interested .