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._