Signs, omens and portents

[CarolAnn]

Most people have heard, "red at night, sailor's delight; red in the morning, sailor take warning" - meaning a red sunrise predicts a storm, while a red sunset means clear sailing the next day.

Mom used to say that it would rain when the leaves turned upside down - and I've seen the silver side of many tree leaves a few hours before a storm, so I believe she was right!

I'd like to hear what signs you've heard of in your neck of the woods - and whether you believe in it!

[chloe3388]

I grew up in west Texas and one of the signs that most everyone goes by is the mesquite. When it starts to green up in the spring that there weren't going to be any more frosts.

[maineyankee]

When the snow in my driveway finally melts, the 4th of july can't be far away !

[sbemt456]

Here in Kentucky I have noticed this summer that when it is cloudy and rain is near, if the birds are still out and singing it will be a good calm summer rain, and if they are silent we are in for a good storm with heavy wind and rain.
I too have always heard when the leaves on the trees were turned over we would get rain.
On another note in spring my father said when the oak tree leaves were the size of a squirrels ear it is time to plant corn, which here is about mid April.


stella

[Shamrock1121]

Out here in Kansas where we still have plenty of sky, there's a couple old sayings that probably have some truth to them.

"Clear moon, frost soon."

"Halo around the moon, rain or snow soon."

We also note when cows lay down it's often an indicator of rain.

-Karen

[walls0stone]

"knee high by july,"
is how you know if a corn crop will come in on time. when deer are out feeding in daylight, we are bound for a storm.

[AlchemyAcres]

My Grandparent's recited dozens.....

Red sky at night, shepherd's delight, red sky in the morning shepherd's take warning.

Be it dry or b eit wet, The weather will always pay it's debt.

Evening red and morning grey,Two good signs for one fine day,

Evening grey and morning red, send the shepherd wet to bed.

If the evening be grey and the morning red, The lamb will go to wet to bed.

Dew in the night, Next day will be bright.

Grey mists at dawn, The day will be warm.

Rain before seven, fine before eleven.

A sun shiny shower won't last half an hour
IF the sun goes pale to bed, 'Twill rain tomorrow it is said.

Rain from the east, will last three days at least.

When the wind is in the East, 'tis neither good for man or beast.

When the wind is in the west, Then the wind is at it's best.

You may shear your sheep when the elder blossoms peep.

If the oak is out before the ash, then you'll only get a splash.
But if the ash beats the oak, Then you can expect a soak

When a cow tries to scratch it's ear, It means a shower is very near.
When it clumps its side with its tail,
Look out for thunder, lightning and hail.

Is the cock goes crowing to bed, he'llcertainly rise with a watery head.

A swarm of bees in may is worth a load of hay,
A swarm of bees in June is worth a silver spoon,
A swarm of bees in July is not worth a fly.

When the bees crowd out of their hive, the weather makes it good to be alive.

If wooly fleeces strew the heavenly way, (clouds)
be sure no rain disturbs the day.

Mackerel sky and mares' tails, make tall ships carrry low sails.

When clouds look as if scratched by a hen, get ready to reef your topsails then.

Mackerel sky, mackerel sky, never long wett, never long dry.

When clouds appear like rocks and towers, The earth will be refreshed with frequent showers.

Moon sign............

Near ring, far rain.
far ring, near rain.

Pale moon does rain,
Red moon does blow,
White moon does neither rain nor snow.

When the stars begin to huddle, the earth will soon become a puddle.

A rainbow at night, fair weather in sight.
A rainbow at morn, fair weather all gorn.

A foot deep of rain will kill hay or grain, But three feet of snow will make them grow mo'.

A cold wet May means a barn full of hay.

Just a few tha I remember.



~Martin :)

[docsoos]

Around here (KY), I'd always heard that the number of foggy mornings we have during the month of AUGUST will be the number of snows we have in JANUARY. The amount/thickness of fog is supposed to be an indicator of the that snow's duration/total accumulation, too.

I've never logged it on the calender, but it seems to be fairly close most of the time, as I recall. I'll have to actually log it this year, and see just HOW close it really is! :D

DocSoos

[mom]

Here in East Texas it's the Pecan leaves. Big as a squirl's ear, no more frosts in the spring.

To guag when the first frost of the fall will be count 6 weeks after you see the first golden rod blooms.

[flatwater]

Here in Washington we have the Indian weather rock. I one can find the right one , you tie it on a trypod so it hangs freely. If the rock is wet , it's raining. if the rock is dry it's a sunny day. If there is snow on top of the rock , then it's snowing. And if the rock is swinging back and forth then the wind is blowing. But not any old rock will do. It has to be an Indian weather rock. ::) ;D ;D
Flatwater

[bookwormom]

I notice that the signs don't work anymore. The moon has had a big halo several times, but not a drop here. the rain crow is calling all the time, but he is a big liar. we just heard the noise from the free way, but it meant nothing, however, the swallows are flying high, and that means sunny weather, so they are right.