FishinMagician (US)

 This story is a follow up story to the one I wrote earlier this month called Wind Wisdom. Although, wind is a great way to predict weather, observing animals might be better.

Crickets are extremely accurate weather instruments. If you count the number of chirps a cricket makes in 14 seconds and add that number to 40, you'll get the Fahrenheit temperature. A turtle crossing the road means a dry spell is on its way. Cows huddled together in a field means a brewing storm. The direction a cow's tail faced also was a weather indicator. A tail pointing west means clear weather. To the east, it means rain. Birds roosting on wires or gathering on beaches also means rain is near. The cicada buzzing a loud shrill buzz warned long hot days ahead. A muskrat building its home higher up the bank means a warmer winter. Even flies can help us foresee what's to come. When they cluster on windows a cold front is coming.

Nature itself can also be a great sign on the upcoming weather. For instance, heavy dew in the morning is a guarantee of a clear day. While no dew warns of rain. The trees producing an overabundance of nuts means a long winter is on its way. Observing the corn harvest can also be a clue. The thicker the husks, the more severe the winter.

Below is a rhyme that can help remember some indicators of future weather.

When the dew is on the grass,
Rain will never come to pass,
When grass is dry at morning light,
Look for rain before the night.

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

Thunder in the fall,
No winter at all,
Thunder in the spring,
Warm weather it will bring.

Believe it or not? Give these folklore techniques a try and see for yourself. Nature can sometimes be more accurate than the Doppler.