Chapter 14
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._