The Weather Lore

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Our ancestors had no other means to predict the weather than the observation of nature and of signs that seemed to anticipate certain meteorological phenomena. A huge volume of weather lore was accumulated over the centuries, some of it correct and some false. I give you a few rhymes here , as an example:

               Like a red morn that ever yet betokened,

Wreck to the seaman, tempest to the field,

Sorrow to the shepherds, woe unto the birds,

Gusts and foul flaws to herdmen and to herds.

Venus and Adonis - Shakespear

 

When the wind is blowing in the North

No fisherman should set forth,

When the wind is blowing in the East,

'Tis not fit for man nor beast,

When the wind is blowing in the South

It brings the food over the fish's mouth,

When the wind is blowing in the West,

That is when the fishing's best!

No weather is ill, if the wind be still. 

Seagull, seagull sit on the sand.

It's never good weather when you're on land.

When halo rings the moon or sun, rain's approaching on the run 

When windows won't open, and the salt clogs the shaker,

The weather will favour the umbrella maker!

A cow with its tail to the West makes the weather best,

A cow with its tail to the East makes the weather least

A summer fog for fair,

A winter fog for rain.

A fact most everywhere,

In valley or on plain.

When sounds travel far and wide,

A stormy day will betide.

 

If clouds move against the wind, rain will follow.

A coming storm your shooting corns presage,

And aches will throb, your hollow tooth will rage.