How to Predict the Weather Using Folk Wisdom

Before there were meteorologists, people had to be able predict what the weather was going to be like. Their lives depended on it. If there was going to be a flood or drought, it could leave people without food or shelter. So, they used what was available. Today, we call this folk wisdom or folk lore. Here are some of the ways these folk used to have some kind of knowledge of the weather in their area.

Many times, the animals around them would tell people what weather was coming. If cows lie down in the fields and birds fly low overhead and locusts sing, all at the same time, you can be sure it will rain. If the chickens are hovering near open doorways, this is another sign it will rain soon. When a heavy rain is on its way, pigs will gather their offspring beneath them for protection. Hissing geese and loud hens are also a foretelling of rain to come.

Plants can give some indication of weather as well. The leaves on the trees will turn their undersides up toward the sky when it is going to rain.

Animals can also know when tornadoes are coming. When a dog is whimpering and turning in circles or horses are stamping at the edge of the corral, there is a cyclone on its way. And, if you see any burrowing animals digging frantically during the day, you will probably also see a tornado within three hours.

If the dew is especially heavy in the morning, it can be a sign of dry weather to come. It would be a good idea to have a plan for getting water to any gardens you are tending. If a mist rises off of the dew, that is an indication of a nice day to come.

To help predict the weather, it is also a good idea to pay attention to the color of the sky. If the sun rises red, there will probably be bad weather during that day. Skies that are tinted green in the southwest are a sure sign of a tornado or at least a hail storm. And, it is probably coming quite fast. If you are about to get an electrical storm, the skies will have a yellow tint. And, gray in the sky usually tells us there will be a gentle rain on its way.

Animals will shed their winter coat before the first day of May if the summer is going to be hotter than normal that year. Another indicator of an especially hot summer is spring storms that are accompanied by low, rumbling thunder but little or no lightning. On the other hand, if the nights in May are mostly clear, the summer will be cooler than usual.

When you see excessive spider activity during the first week in September, you are sure to see an early fall season. Also, in September, look for heavy berry harvests to predict a severe winter on its way. Woolly worms are a well known source of weather prediction. If they have more black than red on their backs, there will be an early winter that year. Birds and squirrels gathering food in late July is another sign of a harsh winter to come. And, if the smoke from your chimney settles around your house, rather than floating away, you should plan for a harsh winter to come.

Before the advent of television, or even radio, people looked to nature to predict the weather. By careful observation, they had a fair chance of knowing what was coming. And, since nature does not change, it is quite possible that these methods of predicting the weather are still valid today.