Old Time Weather Forecasts

When we were kids we used to listen to the old people talking about the weather. They had their 'signs' which they were positive were correct—at least part of the time. Years ago the country folks had no newspapers, radio or TV to tell them what the weather would be like in the next 12 to 24 hours. During the past century, many rural families faithfully followed the Farmers almanac or the old Hagerstown almanac on the coming weather and when to plant their fields and gardens. But, over the years they developed certain 'signs' from which they would make their predictions. For instance, if one's corns or bunions ached and pained, the weather was certain to change. Another would forecast rain by his 'rheumatism'. We still have some who forecast the coming winter weather by the lowly wooly worm. Old hunters claimed that if a squirrel's tail was real bushy or if they began to store nuts early, the winter months was bound to be a long and hard one. Some also predicted the same type of weather by examining his hunting dog's hair. If it was real thick and heavy, they were certain of tough months ahead. Others a made the same prediction by examining the bottom of a rabbit's hind foot.

Many were certain they could tell of the type of winter weather by the paper nests of the hornet. If they were high, cold and heavy snows were sure to come. If they were near the ground, winter was bound to be mild.

If crows gather in large flocks or if the farmers' cattle in the fields herded close together, a change would soon take place.

If one heard the hooting of the horned owl or the screech owl's call that sounded like a woman crying, watch out for a storm. Many predict the first frost from the first katydid’s call. They were certain that frost would come within three months from that date.

Many old timers predicted the weather from certain plants in their garden. If their carrots grew deep down in the soil, or if the onions had many rings, a hard winter was coming. Some forecast the winter weather by examining the hulls of hickory nuts and walnuts. Heavy or thick hulls meant a cold winter. Some have the opinion that if the wild blackberry blossoms are thick and heavy and the berries are plentiful, a tough winter was bound to come.

Farmers used to check the thickness and tightness of the cornhusks. The tighter the husks, the more severe would be the winter. Some still predict the coming winter by the greenness of the grass. The darker it is, the colder it will be.

Others say they can predict the number of snows we will have by the number of foggy mornings we have in August, and the number of fogs we have in January will indicate the number of frosts in May.

How many times have you heard it said that a long hot summer means we will have a long cold winter?

Many farmers, years ago always planted their corn when the oak leaves were the size of a squirrel’s ear. They also believed that if they planted their crops in the dark phase of the moon would insure a good crop. Any other phase of the moon would result in all growth going to the tops.

If Tomatoes were planted in the zodiac sign of the twins, the fruit would always be smooth.

When you blow out a candle—if the wick smoulders a long time, a change of weather is due. If it goes out quickly—fair.

I remember one old man who always watched the smoke coming out of a chimney. He claimed that if the wind blew in from the south or east, watch out for rain within the next 12 hours. If the smoke settled down to the ground quickly, in the fall, falling weather was due. If the smoke went straight up, 'fair weather for the morrow'.

If there is a large circle around the moon, count the stars within the circle. The number of stars will indicate the number of days it will rain.

How many times have you heard the following?

Rain before seven, (am)

Clear before eleven. (am)

or

Evening red and morning gray,

Sets the traveler on his way.

Evening gray and morning red

Rain will fall upon your head.

or

Red morning, shepherds warning

Red night, shepherds delight.

Some believe it will rain if the leaves on a tree show their undersides. If it rains on St.

Swithen's day, it will rain for forty days and nights.

Another old time forecast is that if it rains on Easter Sunday, it will rain every Sunday for seven weeks. I used to hear the following prediction—'the first twelve days after Christmas will always indicate what each month in the next year will be like. (I'm still puzzled over this one).

How many others do you remember?

What's your prediction for tomorrow?