Chapter XIV: Weather

COLD.

930. As the days begin to lengthen,
So the cold begins to strengthen.
_Northeastern United States and Canada._

931. Fire spitting sparks means cold weather.
_Patten, Me._

932. If the fire burns well, it is coming cold weather.
_General in the United States._

933. Fog in winter is always succeeded by cold and wind.

934. Plenty of hawberries foretell a "hard winter," _i.e._, they are to serve as a store of food for birds. _Canada._

935. Cold weather comes after the wind has blown over the oat stubble.
_Pennsylvania._

DAYS AND TIMES.

936. The first Tuesday after the new moon settles the weather for that quarter. _Newfoundland._

937. If it is a fair sunset Friday night, it will rain before Monday.
_Massachusetts._

938. If it storms on a Friday, it will storm again before the next Monday.
_Massachusetts and New York._

939. If the sun sets clear Friday night, it will not rain before Monday night; but if it sets in a cloud, it will rain before Monday night. _Boston, Mass._

940. The weather of the last Friday in the month governs the next month.
_Cambridge, Mass._

941. There will be sun during some part of Saturday the year through.
_Brookline, Mass._

942. If it rains the last Saturday or the first Sunday in a month, it will rain the three following Sundays. _Maine._

943. The sun shines some part of every Saturday in the year but one.
_New England._

944. Saturday's moon comes seven years too soon, and denotes bad weather.
_Newfoundland._

945. Sunday's sail
Will never fail.
_Topsail Bay, N.F._

946. Weather is apt to repeat itself in the following week, _i.e._, there will be a run of wet Sundays or fine Tuesdays, etc. _Brookline, Mass._

947. The first seven days of January indicate the first seven months of the year. Mild days, mild months, etc. _Nova Scotia._

948. If March comes in like a lamb, it goes out like a lion, and _vice versa_. _General in the United States._

949. The corn is planted when the Baltimore orioles appear, or when the first green is noticed on the oak-trees. _Milton, Mass._

950. A dry May and a wet June
Make the farmer whistle a merry tune.
_Franklin Centre, R.I._

951. It rains often on July fourth. That is due to the firing of cannon, etc. _General in the United States._

952. If there is a wet September, there will be a next summer's drouth; no crops and famine. _California._

953. If it rains on Easter, it will rain seven Sundays thereafter.
_Hennepin, Ill._

954. A green Christmas makes a full churchyard, or
A green Christmas makes a fat graveyard.
_General in the United States._

955. The twelve days at Christmas govern the weather of the months of the coming year. _Eastern Massachusetts._

956. The twelve days at Christmas time make the almanac for the year.
_Massachusetts._

957. It is a general notion that a cold winter is followed by a hot summer, and _vice versa_.

958. It always rains while the Cadets are in camp.
_Eastern Massachusetts._

959. It always rains during May meetin's.
_Boston, Mass._

960. It always rains during a cattle-show.
_Deerfield, Mass._

961. Women "cruising," _i.e._, visiting about on "pot-days," especially Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, when people have their best dinner (usually pork and cabbage) in the pot, is a sign of bad weather. But it is also said that it is a sign of mild weather. _Newfoundland and Labrador._

FAIR OR FOUL.

962. Of a change:--

Long looked for
Long last,
Short notice,
Soon past.
_Brookline, Mass._

963. From twelve till two
Tells what the day will do.
_New England._

964. If it rains before seven
It will drip before eleven.
_Eastern Maine._

965. If it rain before seven
It will quit before eleven.
_Prince Edward Island and, Maine, Massachusetts, and Northern
Ohio._

966. If a storm clears off in the night, pleasant weather will last but a few hours. _Northern Ohio._

967. In uncertain or threatening weather it is said that if you can see a piece of blue sky big enough to make a pair of breeches, it will clear off. _Maine, Massachusetts, and Northern Ohio._

968. Variant: If you can see enough blue sky in the west to make an old woman's apron, it will clear off. _Eastern Maine._

969. Clocks and watches tick louder before mild weather.
_Scilly Cove, N.F._

970. Cobwebs on the grass are a sign of fair weather.
_General in the United States._

971. If every dish is cleaned at a given meal, then look for fair weather the following day. _Pennsylvania Germans._

972. Fog lying in valleys is a sign of a "civil" day.
_Bay Roberts, N.F._

973. If hoar frost remains after sunrise, the day will be fine; if not, the day will be wet. _Scilly Cove, N.F._

974. A load of hay passing means fair weather.
_Massachusetts._

975. Rainbow in the morning,
Sailors take warning;
Rainbow at night,
Sailor's delight.
_General in Canada and the United States._

976. A rainbow is a sign of showers.
_Prince Edward Island._

977. Rain falling while the sun is shining indicates more showers.
_Prince Edward Island and Northern Ohio._

978. Rain falling while the sun shines is a sign it will rain next day.
_Methuen, Mass._

979. Rain falling while the sun is shining means that the devil is beating his wife with a codfish. _General in the United States._

980. Thunder in the morning,
All the day storming;
Thunder at night
Is the sailor's delight.

981. Red at night
Sailor's delight;
Red in the morning,
Sailors take warning.
_Maine and Eastern Massachusetts._

982. Evening red and morning gray
Will speed the traveler on his way.
Evening gray and morning red
Will bring the rain upon his head.
_Massachusetts, New York, and Ohio._

983. Evening red and morning gray,
You'll surely have a pleasant day.
_New York._

984. Red sun, hot day to-morrow.

985. High wind at dawn is a sign of a "civil" (calm) day.
_Newfoundland._

986. Sun's "hounds" (a sort of halo) before the sun denote dirty weather; after the sun, denote fine weather. _Scilly Cove, N.F._

In Prince Edward Island and the United States these halos are called "sun-dogs," and are said to be a sign of coming rain.

987. Much snow during the winter denotes good crops next year.
_New Harbor, N.F._

988. If the stars are scarce, big, and dull, it portends mild weather in winter. If large and bright, it portends frost in winter. _Newfoundland._

989. Stars twinkling are a sign of bad weather.
_Labrador and New Harbor, N.F._

MOON.

990. When the moon is on the back, it denotes weather wet or mild; when on the end, it denotes frost. _Newfoundland._

991. Should the new moon lie on its back, it is a sign it will be dry that month, for the moon would hold water. The Indian says the hunter can hang his powder-horn upon it. But should the new moon stand vertically, it will be a wet month, for the moon will not hold water, and the powder-horn will slip off. Very many, however, reverse these signs. _New England, New York, and Ohio._

992. The Indians told the first settlers that if the moon lay well on her back, so that a powder-horn could be hung on the end, the weather during that moon will be dry. _Nova Scotia._

993. The moon changing in the west denotes that fine weather will prevail during that moon. _Bay Roberts, N.F._

994. If the moon changes near midnight there will be fine weather. The nearer to midnight, the finer the weather. _Conception Bay, N.F._

995. A disk or ring around the moon indicates bad weather (rain or snow).
_Newfoundland._

996. A circle round the moon means rain. In some localities the number of stars inside the circle denotes the number of days until it will rain. _Prince Edward Island; general in the United States._

997. Where there is a ring around the moon, whichever way the ring opens; the wind will blow in. If it does not open there will be fine weather. The bigger the ring the nearer the bad weather. _Trinity Bay, N.F._

998. If the new moon is of light color, there will be a frost; if it is red, it will be mild for a month. _Bay Roberts, N.F._

999. The weather of the new moon governs the month's weather.
_Newfoundland._

1000. The weather of the new moon governs the first quarter and after that remains the same; therefore it governs the first half. _Conception Bay, N.F._

1001. The moon being red near midnight, with blunted corners or horns, portends mild weather that month. If the corners are white and sharp, there will be frosty weather. _Conception Bay, N.F._

1002. If there is a star before the moon, the weather will be calm; if the star is behind the moon, the weather will be stormy. _New Harbor, N.F._

RAIN.

1003. A load of barrels foretells wet weather.
_Eastern Massachusetts._

1004. When the Brothers (Catholic theological students) turn out in a procession it will rain soon. _Baltimore, Md._

1005. When a great many women are seen on the street, it will rain next day. _Bedford, Mass._

1006. When you blow out the candle, if the fire on the wick burns bright, it means a fair day on the morrow; if it dies down on being blown out, it indicates a rainy day. _Plymouth, O._

1007. When long cirrus clouds or "cow's tails" are seen, it means rain.
_Lewisburg, Pa._

1008. Cobwebs on the grass for three mornings running are a sign of wet.

1009. If there is no dew on the grass at night, it will rain the next day.
_General in the United States._

1010. Conjurers can stop rain by throwing up clods of dirt.
_Alabama._

1011. Fog on the hill
Brings water to the mill.
Fog on the moor
Brings the sun to the door.
_New York._

1012. A fog from the hills
Brings water to the mills.
A fog from the sea
Drives all the rain away.
_Prince Edward Island._

1013. Fog on the hill
Brings water to the mill.
Fog in the vale,
Catch all the water in a pail.
_Massachusetts._

1014. Three foggy mornings and then a rain.
_Massachusetts._

1015. It will rain within twenty-four hours of a hoar frost.
_Deerfield, Mass._

1016. When the glass sweats, it is the sign of rainy weather.
_Alabama._

1017. If the ground is black, it means rain.
_Peabody, Mass._

1018. To wear your husband's hat is a sign of rain.
_Massachusetts._

1019. Talking of horses is a sign of rain.
_Labrador._

1020. Mackerel sky
Five miles high
Lets the earth
Go three days dry.
_Miller's River, Mass._

1021. Mackerel sky,
Rain by and by.
_Massachusetts._

1022. A mackerel sky is a sign of a storm.
_Prince Edward Island._

1023. Mackerel sky,
Rain is nigh.

or

Mackerel sky,
Rain to-morrow.
_Brookline, Mass._

1024. Mackerel sky
Three days high
Never leaves the earth
Three days dry.
_Massachusetts._

1025. Mackerel's back and the mare's tails
Make lofty ships carry low sails.
_Newburyport, Mass._

1026. Mackerel sky, horse's tail,
Make the sailor draw his sail.
_Brookline, Mass._

1027. Mackerel sky,
Wind blow high.
_Canada._

1028. Mackerel sky,
Twenty-four hours dry.
_Salem, Mass._

1029. Open and shet,
Sign of wet.
_Maine and Massachusetts._

1030. Open and shet,
Sign of more wet.
_Massachusetts._

1031. Open and shet,
Kind o' wet.
_Massachusetts._

1032. If raindrops linger on the pane,
There will be further rain.

1033. Raindrops falling on a river, etc., and raising large bubbles, mean a heavy fall of rain and a flood.

1034. If you can see the reflection of the building, etc., in puddles in the street, it will rain inside of twelve hours. _Salem, Mass._

1035. When the rain dries up quickly from puddles, it will rain again soon.
_Mattawamkeag, Me._

1036. The rope becoming slack denotes that rain is coming.
_Placentia Bay, N.F._

1037. Sparks on the bottom of the tea-kettle mean rain.
_Patten, Me._

1038. The sun drawing water means rain.
_General in the United States._

1039. When the sun sets in a bank of clouds, there will soon be rain.
_Alabama._

1040. It is believed that a rain may be stopped by putting one umbrella or more out in the rain. The longer left the better. _New Orleans, La. (negro)._

1041. Water boiling over out of a kettle is a sign of rain.
_Labrador._

1042. Water boiling away quickly from the kettle is a sign of rain.
_Newfoundland; general in the United States._

1043. The same, however, is also said to be a sign of mild weather.
_Bay Roberts, N.F._

1044. To eat or sing in the water-closet betokens rain the next day.
_Eastern Massachusetts._

1045. Water low in wells is a sign of rain.
_Placentia Bay, N.F._

1046. Whistle to bring rain.
_Newfoundland._

1047. When you hear a distant locomotive whistle, it is a sign of rain.
_Alabama._

1048. Comes the rain before the wind,
Then your topsail you must mind.
Comes the wind before the rain,
Haul your topsails up again.
_Cape Cod, Mass._

1049. In northerly squalls:--

If the rain comes before the wind,
'T is time your topsail to take in;
If the wind before the rain,
You may hoist your topsail up again.
_Labrador._

WIND AND STORM.

1050. A broom falling across the doorway, or chairs set crosswise, is the sign of a storm. _Stratham, N.H._

1051. If a cloud and wind are coming, the wind will last.
_Trinity Bay, N.F._

1052. If a cloud looks as if it had been picked by a hen,
Get ready to reef your topsails then.
_Mansfield, O._

1053. Clothes hanging about the rigging will bring wind.
_Newfoundland._

1054. Blue blazes in a coal fire mean a storm.
_Eastern Massachusetts._

1055. When wood on the fire makes a peculiar hissing noise, it is said "to tread snow," and there will soon be a storm. _Salem, Mass._

1056. If the stove-lids get red-hot when the fire is first made, it is a sure sign of a storm of some kind. _Cambridge, Mass._

1057. If the vessel is becalmed, throw a halfpenny overboard to buy wind.
_Harbor Grace, N.F._

1058. If the halyard lies against the mast, the wind will increase.
_Newfoundland_

1059. Sticking a knife in the mainmast produces wind.
_Conception Bay, N.F._

1060. Table-knives turning blue denote that a northeast wind is coming.
_Placentia Bay, N.F._

1061. Strange lights at sea are seen before a northeast gale.
_Newfoundland_

1062. To see Northern Lights denotes that south wind and a storm will come inside of forty-eight hours. _Massachusetts._

1063. If the fall "line storm" clears off warm, it signifies that storms through that fall and winter will clear away with mild weather, _i.e._, the way in which the storm closes at the autumnal equinox will rule the weather following storms until the vernal equinox storm. Then the same saying applies to the "line-storm" of March, and the spring and summer _after_ storms is foretold.

The contrary would happen if cool weather followed the line storm.
_Weathersfield, Vt._

1064. In the fall, if the sky is red in the west at sunset, a gale is coming from the northeast. _Newfoundland._

1065. If a sky turn gray, the wind will be north.
_Newfoundland._

1066. First rise after low
Foretells stronger blow.

1067. Sailors putting the end of the sheet overboard will bring wind. Hitting it three times across the thwart stops the wind. _Topsail Bay, N.F._

1068. The day of the month of the first snowstorm indicates the number of storms in the year. _Eastern Massachusetts._

1069. If the stars are remarkably clear and bright, it is likely there will be a storm the next day.

1070. Stars in a circle around the moon foretell a storm in the same number of days as there are stars. _Maine, Massachusetts, and New York._

1071. Stars shooting about portend wind.
_Heart's Delight, N.F._

1072. A shooting star shows that wind is coming from the direction toward which it goes. _Conception Bay, New Harbor, N.F._

1073. If stars are in thick patches before twelve at night, it is a sign that wind will come next day from that quarter. _Hearts Delight, Trinity Bay, N.F._

1074. For the sun to rise and go into a cloud means a storm.
_Massachusetts._

1075. If the sun sets in a bank, the wind will be in the "western bank."
_Bay Roberts, N.F._

1076. If the bottom of the tea-kettle is white when taken from the stove, it indicates a snowstorm. _Peabody, Mass._

1077. The sun "getting up water" denotes wind and dirty weather.
_Scilly Cove, N.F._

1078. Whistle for a breeze.
_Universal among sailors._

1079. Whistling of wind in blocks aloft is a sign of a heavy storm.
_Conception Bay, N.F._