Old-fashioned forecasting (that still works today)

This article was taken from The old farmer's almanac, wacky facts and fun activities. Thought this was interesting and wanted to share.

 Long before meteorologists had sophisticated technology to help them predict the weather, people made forecasts based on their observations of the sky, animals, and nature.  Many of the traditional sayings they used, called proverbs, are accurate.

Red sky at night, sailors delight.

Red sky in the morning, sailors take warning.

When the light of the setting Sun hits a high concentration of dust particles in the air, we see a pink or red sky. Dust in the air means that the air is dry. Since weather in North American latitudes usually moves from west to east, a red sky at sunset means that dry weather--good for sailing--is moving east.

When the sky is red or pink in the morning, it means that the rising sun's light is reflecting on dust particles and dry air from the west that have already passed over us on their way east, clearing the way for a storm to move in.

Clear Moon, frost soon.

When the night sky is clear, the Earth's surface cools rapidly--there is no cloud cover to keep the heat in. If the night sky is clear enough to see the moon and the temperature drops enough, frost will form.

Rainbow in the morning, gives you fair warning.

A rainbow in the morning indicates that a shower is west of us and we will probably get it.

(A rainbow in the evening indicates that a shower is east of us and we won't get it.)

A year of snow, a year of plenty.

Farmers expect a good growing season, and a good harvest following a winter when their fields and orchards have been covered with snow. The snow delays the fruit tree blossoms until the danger of damaging frosts have passed, and prevents thawing and freezing cycles that destroy wheat and winter grains.

Expect a cold winter when......

a mole digs its hole 2 1/1 feet deep, pigs gather leaves and straw in the fall, rabbits are fat in October and November, a goose's usually white breastbone is red-or dark spotted, domestic geese walk east and fly west, hornets build their nests near the ground, and the bushes are full of berries.

Expect a storm when.......

seagulls fly inland, petrels (seabirds) gather under the sten of a ship, wolves howl, a crow flies alone, clover contract its leaves.

Expect fair weather when........

sheep ascend the hills and scatter, bats fly late in the evening, fireflies are numerous, frogs sing in the evening, crows fly in pairs, wet spider webs dry quickly.

Expect rain when.......

horses stretch out their necks and sniff the air, cats sneeze or wash behind their ears, bats cry out and fly to their homes, cattle lie down in the pasture, sheep turn into the wind, dogs roll on the ground, eat grass , or straighten their tails, a sunflower raises it head, the leaves of a tree curl with the wind from the south, and corns or wounds itch or ache more than usual.