Old-Timey weather prediction often proves as reliable, if not more so, than today’s hit-and-miss predictions. Have you ever wondered about the old timers’ weather prediction? Old weather sayings were part science and part old wives’ tales weather sayings. How many of these old-timey weather sayings do you know?
favorite sayings of Old-Timey Weather Prediction
The weather plays an important role in the life of a homesteader. We find ourselves checking the weather forecast frequently. It helps us plan our days and save those inside chores for when it’s nasty outside.
Some things just have to be done no matter what the weather, but knowing what’s ahead can be helpful. I enjoy reading about and utilizing weather sayings from old farmers and old wives tales. Old-fashioned weather sayings hold a lot of truth and are sometimes humorous.
Although they probably didn’t know or understand the real science behind them, they knew they worked. Knowledge and information handed down from generation to generation became lost as we had weather forecasts on our televisions and radios. We even have whole channels dedicated solely to the weather.
Some of the old-timey weather predictions were based on old wives’ tales weather sayings and are often comical, but many of them worked. They could predict the weather with great accuracy. My grandparents were closer than any weatherman I’ve ever listened to.
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1. The darker the Woolly Bear caterpillar or its brown stripe, the harsher the weather.
The woolly bear caterpillar will grow, longer, wider black bands when it is going to be a longer, colder winter with more winter precipitation. An all black Woolly Bear would indicate a harsh winter.
When the winter is going to be average or below average, the middle brown band will be wider. So a Woolly Bear with lots of brown or mostly brown would mean an average or milder winter.
It’s said the band that is the widest indicates which part of winter will be the worst.
2. The higher the clouds, the better the weather.
Wispy, thin clouds indicate a spell of nice weather. Don’t confuse chemtrails with these types of clouds.
3. “Red sky at night, sailor’s delight. Red sky in the morning, sailors take warning.”
Did you know that’s from the Bible? Jesus said, “When it is evening, ye say, it will be fair weather: for the sky is red. And in the morning, it will be foul weather today: for the sky is red and lowering.” Matthew 16:2-3
4. Many of the old timers’ weather predictions point to the west as the place to watch for developing conditions.
Jesus also said, “When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is. And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass.” Luke 12:54-55. So people have long known how to read the weather signs.
A weathercock that swings to the west
Proclaims the weather to be the best.
A weathercock that swings to the east
Proclaims no good for man or beast.
5. Bats flying around in the evening indicates fair weather.
Bats will fly home in a drizzle but because they have fur the rain will soak them which means they will have to work harder to fly. If they’re out flying it’s going to be nice weather.
6. To convert cricket or grasshopper chirps to degrees Fahrenheit, count the number of chirps in 14 seconds then add 40 to get the temperature.
Crickets and grasshoppers chirp faster when the air is warmer and slower when the air is cooler. This method of telling the temperature is very accurate.
7. If there is dew in the grass in the morning, chances are it won’t rain that day.
Because dew forms in clear, dry atmospheric conditions, you can know it won’t rain on the days you find morning dew.
8. Three dewless morns, rain is for sure.
The idea is based on the lack of moisture indicating the clouds are retaining it and so they will soon release it to the Earth.
9. Dew before midnight, next morn will be bright.
Based on the same principle as number 7. The earth has cooled quickly because of dry conditions so you can expect no rain.
10. If you make a fire outside and the smoke goes straight up, you will have good weather. If the smoke curls and wisps away then rain is surely on its way.
Smoke particles absorb moisture in the air and become heavy as they do. The greater the moisture, the more the smoke particles will absorb. When the smoke is so heavy it cannot rise and drift away, you’ll know it’s about to rain.
11. Clear Moon, frost soon.
Cloud cover traps heat at the Earth’s surface. A clear moon means there is no cloud cover so the Earth will cool quickly when the Sun goes down. This means you can expect to wake up to a cool morning and maybe even frost.
12. When clouds appear like towers, the Earth is refreshed by frequent showers.
Tall clouds that look like huge cotton balls are innocent. When they begin to take on a tower shape and turn dark, you can be sure a storm is brewing so you should keep your eye out for foul weather.
13. Rainbow in the morning gives you fair warning.
A rainbow is always an indication of rain. In the morning, it means rain is approaching from the west.
14. Bees a’ swarmin’ in July, Bring little more than dry.
Bees are busy gathering pollen in July as the season change is coming fast for them. They only swarm at this time of year when it is going to be dry for a while.
15. When bees stay close to their hive, rain isn’t far away.
Have you ever seen a rain-soaked bee trying to dry himself so he can fly home? They stay home to avoid this trouble.
16. When ditch and pond offend the nose, look for rain and stormy blows.
Scent molecules have a harder time sticking around when the weather is dry. When the air is high in humidity, smells stay low to the ground and are stronger.
17. Chimney smoke that ascends high means fair weather. Chimney smoke that stays low or ascends and then billows back down indicates storms on the way.
Based on the same principle as number 10. The billowing back down of the smoke indicates a windy pattern preceding a possible storm.
18. The earth and flowers smell strongest just before showers.
Based on the same principle as number 16. Scent molecules have a harder time sticking to surfaces when the weather is dry. When the air is high in humidity, they stay low and tend to smell more powerfully.
19. If birds fly high, no worries from the skies. If birds fly low, foul weather is foretold.
Birds are affected by barometric pressure. If you see them flying high, the barometric pressure is high and the weather is good. If you see them flying low, the barometric pressure is low and the weather is changing for the worse.
20. Cattle gathering in a tight group in a corner or even in a field indicate a storm is approaching quickly.
While there is no scientific proof of this, many farmers swear by it.
21. Ring around the moon, rain or snow soon.
A ring or halo around the moon is caused by light refracting as it passes through ice crystals in the upper atmosphere. As the ice crystals move over the tops of high storm clouds it gives the appearance of a ring around the moon.
22. If spiders are many and spinning their webs, the spell will soon be dry.
Spider webs absorb moisture from the air which causes them to become heavy and break. So they are super sensitive to when it’s going to be moist or wet. They tend to hide and wait for the weather to pass before they build again. So if you see them spinning their webs everywhere, you can know it’s going to be nice weather “said the spider to the fly”.
Wrap Up
Well, these aren’t the tip of the iceberg I’m sure. There are so many I don’t know if there’s a book that records them all. I’m often grieved by the knowledge and wisdom we’ve lost from the old-timers.
If you’re still fortunate enough to have an older person in your life, please sit and talk to them, listen to them, and learn from them.
Can you add your own old-timey weather predictions to this short list?
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My mother in law quoted something about the first site of firefly’s, so many days till first frost. But I can’t remember it all .
Growing up in Ohio, my Poppy was an avid Walleye fisherman and claimed the fish would not be biting if the cows were lying down. My grandmother claimed that spring has arrived when the Robins appear and the Forsythia bloom. I have Forsythia in Washington state and every year use them as my guide for my gardening schedule.
Hi Robin, Thank you you so much for sharing the wisdom of your grandparents with us! I’m glad to know they work!
Fog in the morning. It will be hot enough to scorch a hog at noon during summer
reason: moisture make it hard to remove heat from the body and it hold heat from the sun and fog only from when the air is still
The more red berries on a mountain ash tree in the fall the harder the winter
That’s another new one! Thanks so much for sharing.
The date of the first snow is how many snows you’ll have in the season.
I wish I could find an old wives tale that says that, or that’s not a true tale.
Have you heard of such a thing?
Jan, I’ve never heard of that one. Of course, there are many things I haven’t heard of LOL. However, when we lived in Idaho at least one year the snow came on the 4th of October but we had way more snows than one in the winter. Maybe, if it is a true tale, it’s a regional one? Thanks for sharing with us.
If it thunders in February, there will be a frost in April.
Anna, Thanks for sharing this one with us. I’ve not heard it before!
When the swallow swoops low, expect rain or snow. And: Beware Mate’s tails and Mackerel scales. (Referred to clouds that look like horse’s trail and fish scales. I don’t remember the actual name for the types of clouds. But the horses tail means storm is 48 to 72 hours out and the fish scales is 24 to 48 hours out. I live in Colorado, so the weather is very unpredictable. Started abiding by those two sayings and I’ve been dead on almost every time.)
Sorry. It’s Mare’s tails. Stupid auto correct.
I know, don’t you hate it sometimes? Lol
Thanks Stephanie for sharing these tips. I don’t know that I’ve heard them before. ????
If the cows are laying down, it’s gonna rain.
Thanks, Susie. That’s a great tip!
I love this.
🙂 Thank you, Leann!
A ninety year told me this one: Rain before 7, gone by 11.
That’s a good one, Joyce. Thanks so much for sharing!
I live in Texas. My grandfather told me that as long as you still see robins, the cold weather isn’t over.
Rhonda: Thanks for refreshing my memory. The article made me recall back when I was a boy, and my Dad would predict the weather. You’re right,… so much knowledge and wisdom of the old-timers have been lost. If my memory is serving me correctly, my Dad used to say that when the tree leaves turned over it was a sign that it was going to rain.
Ben, Thank you for taking the time to share your memories with us. I’m so glad the article reminded you of happy days gone by. I remembered something about trees and their leaves, but just couldn’t locate it. Thanks for sharing it!
When squirrels build nests high in the trees means large amounts of snow. When maple trees turn to silver on the underside of the leaves……it’s going to storm/rain.
Awesome prediction tips Diana! Thanks so much for sharing with us!
I have watched and said about watching smoke from fires for years. If the smoke rises straight up with no movement to either side etc. Expect clear weather for at least 24 hours.
Tim, Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts. I’m glad to know you’ve experienced that this works. 🙂