Weather-Lore

transcribed at

Weather-Lore  [duchas:4420200]

I have often heard my parents talk of the signs of bad and good weather.  Many and varied are the opinions held in connection with the sky but it is certainly true that a good many of these messengers of of bad weather or omens of good weather as the case may be, prove real prophets.
The signs are associate with the sky are as follows.  When the sun is all darkened and a circle around it, it is a sure sign of a coming storm.  and a very sudden storm is always expected when we see that great circle.  Others say when there are "horn" so some people call them or big shafts of lighs shooting up into the sky when the sun is sinking it denotes a wind storm.  People like to see the clouds very red especially in the West at it is always a sign of good weather.  A red sky in the morning is a sign of a coming storm.  When there a black blue cloud tinged with white it is a sign of thunder and lightning.  Big grey clouds are for snow.
The following are a few of the signs we associate with the moon.  When the moon has a silvery face it foretells frost.  When a white ring of mist appears round the moon it is a sure sign of rain.  A new

Weather-Lore  [duchas:4420201]

moon that is far north when she is first seen is for bad weather.  The new moon that is lying on "her" back when she first appears is a sign of good weather.  A far off ring round the moon is a near hand storm.  A moon that seems to be standing erect in the sky indicates bad weather.  Sometimes the moon is hidden underneath clounds it signifies a great storm of rain.
The following are the conclusion which the old people of this district draw from changes of the stars.  Very bright stars is a sign of frost.  It is said that when the stars begin to shoot in any direction the wind will be blowing in that direction the following day.
The signs that are associated with the rainbows are as follows.  A rainbow is a sign of rain at any time.  There is a belief in this district that if the two ends of the rainbow meets in the one town land that a death in that town land is near.  There is a few old proverbs about the rainbow.  The following are a few which I have heard "A rainbow in the East is neither good for man or beast."  A rainbow at night as the shepherds delight".  A rainbow in the morning is the shepherds warning "A rainbow in the West pleases the farmer best."
The following are the omens we associate with the smoke.  When the smoke is seen going up straight into the air that is a sign of rain and when it is seen going up straight and falling down to the

Weather-Lore  [duchas:4420202]

ground it is considered an omen for good weather.  If smoke goes Eastwards when the wind is blowing from the West it is a sign that the wind will change to the East.
The following is a few of the omens associated with the birds.  Swallows fly low to the ground when there is going to be rain.  Blackbirds frequenting the doors of the houses or the windows sills and picking up crumbs and corn is a sign of a snow storm.  If blackbirds begin to sing in the month of February it is a sign that we are going to have an early spring.  When the wild geese leave what ever place they are in it is a sure sign that a storm is coming from that place the following week.  If a bird called a long necked heron flys up along the rivers that is said to also be a sign of dry weather.  If the wind is blowing and crows trying to stand on the air it denotes rain.  A large flock of hens standing feathering themselves in some shady place it is said to denote a storm.  When you see the seal along shore it is a sign of rain.  When the blind bat is seen flying about at night we expect fine weather.  When you see the crows and starlings flying together in a croud in late Autumn we may expect frost and snow.  In early spring when you see the larks soaring high into the air we expect good good weather.  In the summer time when the larks fly low to the ground it is a sure sign of rain.  If segulls leave the shore and come up the land it is a

Weather-Lore  [duchas:4420203]

sign that we are going to have to have a storm of rain.
The following is a few of the omens associated with the animals.  If you ever see a cat scraping at the leg of the tables it denotes rain.  When dogs eat grass it foretells bad weather.  Cows shake themselves if a bad storm of rain is going to be.  To see the cat washing her face and putting her paw over her ear it also denotes rain.
The signs which are associated to the sea are as follows.  When there is a dark green colour in the sea it is a sign of a thunder storm.  If there is a sea swell it is a sign of a storm and also if there is what we locally call "a drag" meaning a great noise from the sea it denotes rain.  If the sea is all murky in appearance a storm approaching.  The sea being white like milk is a pointer that there is a storm coming from the North.
The following are the beliefs regarding the insects.  In the Summers evening when we see the wild bees going home to their nests with a humming noise it is a sign of rain.  When beetles are heard buzzing about in the evening it is considered that there is good weather coming.  If the midges are seen flying about it is a sign of rain.
Here is another few bliefs which I have often heard.  The roads be very dusty if a storm of wind is close at hand.  If the roads are dry it is sign of frost.  In very bad weather if the sky becomes a pink red

Weather-Lore  [duchas:4420204]

we expect the weather to become good.  If the sun is shining and a long shaped cloud near one of her beams this denotes a coming wind storm.  If the Northern lights are shining between two white clouds it is a sign that we are going to have a storm of snow.  In the west if there is a copper colour it denotes bad weather.  Some say that when the sun shines and then fade away that this signifys broken weather.  When the sun is shining very brightly after a shower it denotes more rain.  There are white streaky cloulds called "goats hair" which are pointers of wind storms.  When the sun is looking pale it denotes bad weather.  When we see a blue green blaze coming out of the fire or if the ashes become a very blue colour it denotes stormy weather. Flies in the morning signifys good weather.  When the fire produces great heat it is a sign of coming storm.  Black clouds that are shapeless and rolling lowly also signify broken weather.  When there are milky - ways in the sky at night people say it denotes wind.  When the heavy black clouds float close on the top of the mountains we may expect rain.  When the sky is full of white misty clouds at night we may expect rain also.  A multitude of ants crawling on a dusty road it is a sign of broken weather.  In the morning when the sun is rising with long rays stretching out from the sky we may expect rain.  If you hear a bee with a low hum it is a sign that the bee is flying on a long journey and that we are going to have a rain storm.  If you ever hear the

Weather-Lore  [duchas:4420205]

the tide with quick rattle we may expect good weather.  Red clouds in the sky denotes good weather, and blue clouds denotes snow and rain.  If you ever see cows and other animals gathering themselves up it is a sure sign of a hurricane.  If we have good weather up to the midges come it is a sign that we are going to have dull sulky weather.