How To Forecast The Weather By Observing Nature

by Renie (Szilak) Burghardt

For thousands of years, human beings have relied on observing nature to forecast the weather. Shepherds and sailors, people whose lives depended on the weather showed a keen sense of observation and learned to connect the changes in nature with patterns of weather. Without the aid of modern scientific methods, a keen eye was necessary.

Farmers would watch cloud movements and sky color to know when to plant and harvest. Sailors noted wind shifts and watched the motions of the waves for signs of change. Hunters observed animals and insects. Repeated observations taught them to foretell the weather. These observations were passed down through generations, altered by the wisdom of the times. They became part of culture and education. They are called weather lore.

Although today, people dismiss old time weather lore as fables, modern forecasters are usually only about 50 percent accurate despite all the scientific tools available to them. In fact, some of the old sayings about the weather have proven quite reliable to coming weather changes. Perhaps you can test some of these, and find out for yourself.

Man has been fascinated by the moon throughout the ages. It was also one of the main weather predictors that has been found to have scientific evidence. For example, the saying, “ A ring around the moon, means rain or snow soon,” is pretty well on the mark. When the moon looks like it has a halo or ring around it, it is due to cirrus clouds in the higher altitudes. Cirrus clouds usually proceed low pressure systems bearing moisture. The ice crystals in these clouds refract light, making it look like a ring. So, next time you see a halo or ring around the moon, you will know that moisture of some kind is on the way.

Another saying, “It the moon’s face is red, water ahead,” is a pretty accurate forecast of rain. That red color is due to some dust being pushed ahead of a low pressure front bringing in moisture. But a bright, clear moon and light breezes at night mean a beautiful day in store.

The sun can also pretty accurately tell what the weather holds in store for us. A red sun at dawn or dusk is a good indicator of dry weather. On the other hand, if you look up at the sun at midday and see a white band around it, expect some change within 12 to 24 hours. If the weather is clear when you see the halo around the sun, stormy weather is on its way. But if the weather is dreary at the time of the halo, fair weather is about to arrive. Pale sunsets also mean that rain is on its way.

The sky has also been used as a weather predictor for hundreds of years. A red sky at sunset usually indicates dry weather is on its way. This is because the sun is shining through some dust particles being pushed ahead by a high pressure system bringing in dry air.

On the other hand, a red sky in the morning usually means that moisture is on the way. Again, the sky is red because of the dust particles being pushed on out, but this time by an approaching low pressure system bringing in moisture.

Clouds are very accurate weather predictors. Each type of cloud is caused by specific actions in nature building up to a type of weather. For example, light, scattered clouds alone in a clear sky usually mean strong winds, as do sharply defined edges to clouds. Clouds lowering and thickening means deteriorating weather ahead, as do puffy clouds that begin to develop vertically and darken. Clouds increasing in numbers, moving rapidly across the sky is a signal of bad weather ahead. But if the sky is clear and blue to the West, and clouds dot the afternoon sky, fair weather is in store. The higher the clouds the better the weather.

Animals seem to have the ability to predict good or bad weather. Dogs and cats can sense when a tornado or an earthquake is about to take place. Birds roost early and feed heavily before a rain or snow. The old saying is, “When sea-gulls fly to land, a storm is at hand.” Both pigs and squirrels gather more debris to insulate themselves when cold weather is approaching. And some people predict how cold the winter will be by the woolly worm’s color ! But one true indication of a cold winter is by an animals heavy coat and how much food it stores for the coming winter.

Even some plants can forecast the weather accurately. If you have a rhododendron bush in your yard, take a look at it. The colder the weather is, the more the leaves of the rhododendron close. At 20 degrees they are completely closed, but as the temperature rises, their leaves begin to unfurl. When the temperature reaches 60 degrees, they are completely

Dandelion, chickweed, bindweed’s, clover, wild indigo and tulips all fold their petals just before rain. Mushrooms and mosses are everywhere when the weather is moist. Exposed seaweed on rocks swells and rejuvenates in the high humidity just before rainy weather, and in bogs the pimpernel closes.

There are many signs in nature on forecasting the weather. Some of them are more accurate than others. Look for these natural signs. Write them down and then listen to the weather predictions on the TV or radio. Compare them. This way you will find out for yourself how reliable nature’s signs are for predicting changes in the weather, and you’ll enjoy yourself and learn something in the process.