Sayings which may be locally accurate Weather lore

1 sayings may locally accurate

1.1 when clouds black smoke
1.2 red sky @ night
1.3 low pressure regions
1.4 calm conditions
1.5 bird behaviour
1.6 ring around moon
1.7 humidity indicators
1.8 pasture-watching
1.9 fog
1.10 sound transmission
1.11 cloud movement
1.12 aches , pains

sayings may locally accurate

folkloric content has locally based observational validity allows these sayings stand test of time. of these observations may have scientific explanations.

when clouds black smoke



when clouds black smoke
a wise man put on cloak

thick, moisture laden storm clouds absorb sunlight. gives them appearance resembles black smoke.

red sky @ night

a red sunset means dry weather next day.

(see red sky @ morning)

red sky @ night, sailor s delight.
red sky in morning, sailor s warning.

(in variations, sailor replaced shepherd )

a red sky – in morning or evening, result of high pressure air in atmosphere trapping particles of dust or soot. air molecules scatter shorter blue wavelengths of sunlight, particles of dust, soot , other aerosols scatter longer red wavelength of sunlight in process called rayleigh scattering. @ sunrise , sunset, sun lower in sky causing sunlight travel through more of atmosphere scattering more light. effect further enhanced when there @ least high level clouds reflect light ground.

when weather systems predominantly move west east, red sky @ night indicates high pressure air (and better weather) westwards. in morning light eastwards, , red sky indicates high pressure (and better weather) has passed, , area of low pressure following behind.

low pressure regions

cold, blustery northerly winds typically accompany low pressure system.





when wind blowing in north
no fisherman should set forth,
when wind blowing in east,
tis not fit man nor beast,
when wind blowing in south
it brings food on fish s mouth,
when wind blowing in west,
that when fishing s best!

in western european seas, description of wind direction excellent illustration of how weather events of active low pressure area present themselves. approach of low, easterly winds typically pick up. these gusty winds can unpleasant number of reasons; uncomfortably warm, dry, , dusty in summer , bitterly cold in winter. northerly winds, follow around low, cold , blustery. sailing in conditions of northerly winds requires expertise , boat capable of handling heavy waves. southerly winds bring warm temperatures, , though may not feed fish, provide pleasant fishing weather. best circumstance, however, have westerly wind blowing; wind condition persist time, weather should remain fair , clear, , wind should relatively constant.

wind , weather observations different low passing north of observer 1 passing south. when low passes north, winds typically pick east, swing southerly (possibly accompanied light precipitation, not) passage of low s warm front, , switch northwesterly or westerly cold front passes. typically, if there heavy precipitation, accompany passage of cold front. when low passes south, on other hand, winds pick east, gradually shift northerly. overcast skies , steady precipitation occur center of low passes due south, skies clear , winds gradually become westerly low moves off east. no observer experience weather elements of low in single passage.

calm conditions

no weather ill, if wind still.

calm conditions, clear skies, indicate dominance of high pressure area. because highs broad regions of descending air, discourage formation of phenomena typically associated weather, such clouds, wind, , precipitation. calm conditions, though, may result circumstance known calm before storm, in large thunderstorm cell west may updrafting westerly surface wind before can arrive locally. situation readily identifiable looking west – such approaching storm close enough unmistakable. in winter, though, calm air , clear skies may signal presence of arctic high, typically accompanied cold air, , difficult imagine describing temperature of –35°c (–31°f) pleasant.

bird behaviour

sometimes lore concurrent existing conditions, more prediction, in:

seagull, seagull sit on sand.
it s never weather when re on land.

seagulls tend sleep on water. however, seagulls, people, find gusty, turbulent wind difficult contend with, , under such circumstances, water choppy , unpleasant. seagulls huddled on ground may sign weather bad.

a ring around moon



when halo rings moon or sun, rain s approaching on run

a halo around sun or moon caused refraction of body s light ice crystals @ high altitude. such high-level moisture precursor moisture moving in @ increasingly lower levels, , indicator active weather system on way. halos typically evolve known milk sky , when sky appears clear, typical blue either washed-out or barely noticeable. high, thick cirrostratus cloud clear indicator of approaching low. in coldest days of winter, halo around sun evidence of cold , typically clear air @ , above surface. sun dogs indicators weather conditions change in next 18 36 hours.

humidity indicators

when windows won t open, , salt clogs shaker,
the weather favour umbrella maker!

moisture in air causes wood swell, making doors , windows sticky, , salt effective absorber of moisture. high level of moisture in air, likelihood of precipitation increased. magnesium carbonate , later calcium silicate in iodized salt acts anti-clumping agent in humid conditions, leading morton salt s umbrella girl logo , slogan when rains, pours .

pasture-watching

when cows lying down in field, rain on way may not scientific prediction, , yet animal behavior @ times of changing pressure systems makes interesting theories. cool updrafts or hovering of flies on bellies factor?



a cow tail west makes weather best,
a cow tail east makes weather least

cows prefer not have wind blowing in faces, , typically stand backs wind. since westerly winds typically mean arriving or continuing fair weather , easterly winds indicate arriving or continuing unsettled weather, cowvane way of knowing weather next few hours.

fog

a summer fog fair,
a winter fog rain.
a fact everywhere,
in valley or on plain.

fog formed when air cools enough vapour pressure encourages condensation on evaporation. in order air cool on summer night, sky must clear, excess heat can radiated space. cloudy skies act blanket, absorbing , reradiating heat, keeping in. if cool enough (and clear enough) fog form, clear next day. winter fog result of 2 entirely different circumstances. above ocean or large lake, air typically more humid above land. when humid air moves on cold land, form fog , precipitation. (to east of north american great lakes, common phenomenon, , known lake effect. ) in northerly climates, ice fog may form when temperature drops substantially below freezing. exclusively urban phenomenon, when air cold vapor pressure results in condensation, , additional vapour emitted automobiles, household furnaces, , industrial plants accumulates fog.

sound transmission

when sounds travel far , wide,
a stormy day betide.

this piece of lore true in summer conditionally false in winter. moisture-laden air better conductor of sound dry air, moist air carries sounds farther. in winter, temperature becomes important factor. if air warm , moist, rule holds. if air cold, dense , better sound conductor warm air, , drier. when sounds carry on long distance, cold, clear weather linger.

cloud movement

if clouds move against wind, rain follow.

this rule may true under few special circumstances, otherwise false. standing 1 s ground-level wind , observing movement of clouds, possible determine whether weather improve or deteriorate. northern hemisphere, works this: if upper-level clouds moving right, low-pressure area has passed , weather improve; if left, low pressure area arriving , weather deteriorate. (reverse southern hemisphere.) known crossed-winds rule. clouds traveling parallel against wind may indicate thunderstorm approaching. outflow winds typically blow opposite updraft zone, , clouds carried in upper level wind appear moving against surface wind. however, if such storm in offing, not necessary observe cloud motions know rain possibility. nature of airflows directly @ frontal boundary can create conditions in lower winds contradict motions of upper clouds, , passage of frontal boundary marked precipitation. often, however, situation occurs in lee of low pressure area, north of frontal zones , convergence region, , not indicate change in weather, rather, weather, fair or showery, remain period of hours @ least.

aches , pains

a coming storm shooting corns presage,
and aches throb, hollow tooth rage.

there have been medical studies done indicate people experience effect. reason fall in atmospheric pressure, blood vessels dilate in reaction. has effect of aggravating already-irritated nerves near corns, cavities, or arthritic joints. studies inconclusive, however, researchers attributing effect selective memory.