weather predictions

beowoulf90 · #21 10/09/12, 10:48 AM

As some have said already;

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

Also note there are plenty of "folk" ways to determine the up coming weather.

Wooly bear caterpillar,
Watch the leaves of the trees, they will turn up or down when rain is coming
Watch the eagles, they will ride the currents ahead of an approaching thunderstorm. (thus their "thunderbird" name)
Acorns are another way..

The best advice I can give is get a local Farmers almanac and read it to find out what locals in your area are using to forecast up coming weather.

A barometer works wonders and tells you whether the pressure is rising or falling. Which gives you an indication of approaching weather..

Also just learn to watch the sky when you know a system is coming in. Look and learn the differences in the clouds.. For example when we lived in El Paso, we told our elderly life time El Paso neighbors that snow was coming.. They laughed at us and said they rarely ever get snow.. We were watching the clouds and knew what "snow" clouds look like since both the DW and I were born in PA. Well we got snow, 6 inches the next day and 8 inches a week later for a record snow for the month and year (Dec 1982).. Learn how storms normally track in your local area, it will help you to determine if it is approaching you or how destructive it will be..

SueMc · #22 10/10/12, 01:02 PM

I opened a half dozen persimmon seeds and they all had spoons here in Central IL.
The horses and mules started growing out their coats, heavy and early this year.
I can't predict the weather sooner or later, but neither can the guys on TV!

What few wooly worms I've seen this year have been mostly brown......A definite conflict with the persimmons!

beowoulf90 · #23 10/10/12, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wind in Her Hair

acorns, birds, frogs, cattle, horses, deer, squirrels, the sky - I watch them all.

Just like a few minutes ago I was out on the loading dock having a smoke.. I know and have been informed by the local TV station that there is a storm coming in this evening. So while smoking a cigarette I was looking at the sky and clouds and low and behold there was a hawk riding the strong air currents heading north northeast.. I watched the hawk go for a good mile or more north. Most hawks should be starting to migrate south now, so this tells me that this hawk was either delaying it's migration because of the storm or simply just using the northerly air currents to hunt..

But this is what I was talking about in my earlier post. Learn what is normal in your locale and make your determination from all available info..

Strange Bear · #24 10/10/12, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coontail

geo in mi, was it something that really worked or was it like a gag gift? how was it made?

My thought that it was kind of like this:
Weather rock
If the rock is wet, it's raining.
If the rock is swinging, the wind is blowing.
If the rock casts a shadow, the sun is shining.
If the rock does not cast a shadow and is not wet, the sky is cloudy.
When the rock turns white, it is snowing.
In the morning, if the rock is coated with ice, there is a frost. If the ice is thick, it's a heavy frost.

geo in mi · #25 10/10/12, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Strange Bear

My thought that it was kind of like this:
Weather rock
If the rock is wet, it's raining.
If the rock is swinging, the wind is blowing.
If the rock casts a shadow, the sun is shining.
If the rock does not cast a shadow and is not wet, the sky is cloudy.
When the rock turns white, it is snowing.
In the morning, if the rock is coated with ice, there is a frost. If the ice is thick, it's a heavy frost.

There 'ya go......
And if it's gone, so will you be.....

Yep, a gag....

Personally, I use radar. Just wish we had it when we made hay so many years ago......

geo

Happy Gardener · #26 10/10/12, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RonM

I am 72 and never saw as many acorns as this year, ever. That I always heard indicates a hard winter, sure hope not, getting $3.70 oil on Monday....

I don't know where you live but here in Michigan this is the first year that I remember of
not having a single acorn.

Immaculate Sublimity · #27 10/10/12, 02:35 PM

Maybe here in Michigan we're going to skirt a real harsh winter again? My caterpillars have normal fuzz and a nice hefty brown band. My dogs and cats are sporting a decent coat but nothing to indicate its going to be bad. The geese are flying north still. my maple tree isnt even turning colors yet, lot less losing leaves.

NicoleandBrian · #28 10/10/12, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wind in Her Hair

after reading "The Children's Blizzard" I have a healthier respect for reading signs and acquainting myself with the climate and microclimate I live in.

During the great blizzard of 1888 the new immigrants did not know the area or the signs well enough to see the blizzard coming and as a result - the loss of life was horrific.

Written by a weather geek, this book really explains what happened meteorlogically to create the " Storm of the Century" that devestated the upper midwest and plains on that fateful day in January. I watch the skies much more intently after having read that sobering tale.

Added to my "to read" list! Thanks!

Annie · #29 10/10/12, 04:20 PM

Coontail, if you can get your hands on the Foxfire Book, the one with hog dressing, it has a section on weather signs that is good. Also planting by the signs.

coontail · #30 10/10/12, 09:10 PM

got all the foxfires except the last one. the weather signs are in 11.

homesteadmama · #31 10/10/12, 10:10 PM

I thought the wooly caterpillars looked different this year--the brown band is definitely small and they are extra wooly here in the PNW on the wet side of the mountains..thanks for posting that!

beowoulf90 · #32 10/16/12, 12:21 PM

Here is a sight that has a bunch of "rules of thumb" for almost everything..

I was looking for something else and found the weather ones.. Some of them are interesting/funny...

RulesofThumb.org - Homepage

Have fun and enjoy..

coontail · #33 10/20/12, 11:28 AM

the other night i read that if you see a male cardinal it will rain. i saw one at lunch time the next day and it rained before 5. been watching the clouds and they say when the quarter moons tips point down it will rain.

Waiting Falcon · #34 10/20/12, 01:28 PM

I saw a bunch of woolies the other day and they were solid black.

Turkeys: The toms have been mingling with the hens and their broods. This week , I saw a tom threading a hen........... It will have to be extremely mild for them hatch in December.

coontail · #35 10/20/12, 04:09 PM

we cut a couple 'simmon seeds in va and they had spoons.