WEATHER LORE, JINGLES AND PROVERBS

Wooly fleece or fleecy white clouds refer to cumulus clouds with little vertical development (fair weather cumulus). This is sound folklore (as long as the clouds remain flat and do not grow vertically later on).

Mountains in the morning Fountains in the evening

The mountains refer to high, billowing cumulus clouds, indicative of instability and possible development of cumulonimbus clouds and a late afternoon or evening thunderstorm.

When a halo rings the moon or sun Rains approaching on the run

As already indicated, a halo around the sun or moon is followed by inclement weather about 65% of the time.

Short notice, soon to pass Long notice, long will last or Long foretold - long last Short notice - soon past

The approach of a major storm system with bad weather lasting several hours or more is revealed well in advance - by cloud formations, changing wind directions, falling barometric pressure, the arrival of swell, etc. However, a short lived bad weather event, such as a local thunderstorm, might only be revealed a short while ahead of time, such as from cumulus growing into cumulonimbus. This is, therefore, a fairly accurate jingle.

Seagull, seagull, get out on T'sand We'll never have good weather with thee on the land

During fair weather, gulls scavenge at the waters edge or offshore. During stormy weather, they often fly inland and scavenge at waste dumps. However, they usually don't do this until after the storm has arrived!

When the glass falls low Look out for a blow or When the wind backs, and the weather glass falls, Then be on your guard against gales and squalls

Sound advice, because as already indicated, a steady, persistent fall in atmosheric pressure is often a good indication of foul weather to come. This is particularly true with a windshift from the west to the east, northeast or southeast.

Red sky at night, sailors delight Red sky in the morning, sailors take warning

This is probably the most famous of all weather sayings, and is true more often than not. A red sky at sunset or early evening indicates clouds to the east, with clearing on the western horizon allowing the setting sun to be seen. Unsettled weather or stormyness may have passed or be moving out. A red sky in the morning indicates clouds to the west as the sun is rising, which may advance eastward and bring bad weather with them.

When the wind before the rain Let your topsails draw again. When the rain before the wind Topsail sheets and halyards mind.

A small, weak, frontal system will have a narrow band of associated rain, and wind may be more conspicuous than rain. Stronger fronts and intense depressions are surrounded by bad weather for considerable distances, and precipitation should preceed the strongest wind.

Mackeral skys and mares tails Make lofty ships carry low sails.

The mackeral sky is composed of cirrus and cirrocumulus clouds (which resemble scale patterns on a mackeral's back). The mares tails refer to trails of ice crystals blown in streaks from cirrus clouds. These clouds may appear ahead of an approaching storm or frontal system, and can indicate strong winds aloft. If the cirrus and/or cirrocumulus thicken to cirrostratus, altostratus, and then nimbostratus, stormy conditions may be on the way. Strong winds require less sail for navigation in a rough sea.

Sound traveling far and wide A stormy day will betide.

Low, dense, rainy, stratus and nimbostratus clouds trap sounds by preventing them from escaping into the atmosphere above. Voices or noise may appear louder and travel further when these clouds are present.

Frost or dew in the morning light Shows no rain before the night.

The formation of frost or dew requires night time cooling which usually occurs only on very clear, calm nights. Such a night is usually followed by fair, sunny daytime weather, so inclement weather would be unlikely. However, a weather system moving very rapidly could arrive during the day, thus interfering with this proverb.

First rise after low Portends a stronger blow.

The strongest, gustiest wind often does not occur until the barometer reaches it's lowest value and begins to rise. This is especially true in intense, well developed storm systems. Pressure gradients behind the low center can be very strong, giving rise to dangerous, unpredictable gales.