How to Predict the Weather

Protect your garden vegetables from the wiles of the weather. Know just when to plant and just when to harvest. This old-time weather lore will help you know what's coming before the weatherman does.

Barometer

Stationary barometer indicates continuance of the present weather.

Slowly rising barometer usually indicates fair weather.

Slowly falling barometer indicates the approach of a severe storm. One-fifth to one-third of an inch is sufficient fall to give indications.

Sudden rise of the barometer indicates the approach of a storm or the breaking-up of an existing storm.

Sudden fall of the barometer indicates high winds and probable rain.

When areas of low and high barometer are near together, heavy gales may be expected.

Long lines of clouds extending up the sky from a common starting-point often fortell a storm from that quarter.

When the fleecy or cirrus clouds settle down into horizontal bars or ribs in the upper sky, wet and foul weather may be expected. This is the "mackerel sky."

If contiguous clouds move in various directions, rain is likely to follow soon.

When small black clouds scud over an overcast sky, heavy rain and bad weather may be expected.

Cumulus clouds that preserve a well-rounded form and float high in the air indicate fair weather.

Anvil-shaped cumulus clouds usually indicate thunderstorms.

In spring and fall, rain is often indicated by a dense bank of gray clouds in the east, in front of which are little shoals of blackish clouds.

Cirro-cumulus clouds like bunches and fleeces of
wool scattered high in the sky are indications of still and dry weather.

When the rays of the rising sun shoot far up into the sky, fair weather may be expected.

When the ray-like shadows of clouds overlie a hazy sky in the vicinity of the sun, rain is apt to follow. This is expressed in the phrase, "the sun drawing water."

Gaudy hues of blue and purple at sunset prophesy rain and wind.

A bright red sunset means fair weather for the morrow.

A pale and diffuse sun at setting portends a storm.

If the sun sets in subdued purple and the zenith is pale blue, fair weather may be expected.

A deep red morning sky is usually followed by bad weather.

A sonorous condition of the atmosphere fortells rain.

A bank of cloud across the southern horizon in winter indicates snow. It is frequently called the "snow-bank."

If the sun rises clear but becomes overcast within half an hour, prepare for rain.

A halo about the moon indicates a rain-storm.

If the sky is white or yellowish white nearly to the zenith after sunset, prepare for rain soon.

Strong east winds indicate a storm.

Haziness is indicative of dry weather. It is due to dust in the atmosphere.

When haziness suddenly disappears and the sun sets pale and the sky is very clear, rain is probable.

When stars twinkle with unusual prominence, rain may be expected.

Heavy dew indicates fair weather.

Absence of dew for two or three mornings in succession in summer is a precursor of rain.

From THE HORTICULTURISTS' RULE BOOK, 1892

This is part of an article from the book The Kitchen Garden Guide