Here are some hints to the validity of the proverbs, according to Eric Sloane, author

of Folklore of American Weather.

1-Geese (True) - Geese (and other migrating birds) fly higher in fair weather than in

foul.

Because pressure lowers as you ascend, the higher you go, the less pressure you

will find. Birds seek height in migration to make use of their ceiling (or altitude

limit) is lifted in good-weather, high-pressure air, and lowered in low-pressure,

stormy air.

 

2-Sea gull (True) - Sea gull, sea gull, sit on the sand; It's a sign of a rain when you

are at hand.

Generally speaking, birds will roost more during low pressure than during

high-pressure. Before a hurricane great flock of birds will be seen roosting. Perhaps

the lowering of pressure or thinning of air density makes flying so much harder; the

lessening of natural updrafts would also account for the birds "resting it out."

 

3-Cow (True) - A cow with its tail to the west, makes weather the best; A cow with

its tail to the east, makes weather the least.

This New England saying has much truth in it, for an animal grazes with its tail to

the wind. This is a natural instinct, so the animal may face and see an invader; and

invader from the opposite side would carry out its scent to the cow, in the wind. In

as much as an east wind is a rain wind and a west wind is a fair wind, the grazing

animal's tail becomes a weather sign.

 

4-Corn (Possibly) - If corn husks are thicker than usual, a cold winter is ahead.

The Pennsylvanians said, "When the corn wears a heavy coat, so must you." A

thicker corn husk is the result of a wetter, warmer summer; a swing of the

pendulum to a colder, dryer winter would seem in order in this case.

 

5-Clouds (True) - The higher the clouds, the better the weather.

Higher clouds indicate both dryness of air and higher atmospheric pressure. Both

these qualities are present with fair weather.

 

6-Ants (False) - When ants trave in a straight line, expect rain; when they scatter,

expect fair weather.

There seems to be no reason for this to be true, although many people still use it as

a weather sign. In the Ozarks they say, "Bugs march when the rain is near," and in

Maine there is a saying that "Flies scatter in good weather."The saying that "a

straight line of ants brings on a rain" is possibly a combination of those sayings.

 

7-Flies (True) - Flies bite more before a rain.

This rule does not always apply, but insects do calling more during moist weather,

as flying is more difficult. Heat causes human sweating, which makes you a more

appetizing target. Theses two reasons, plus a release of more body odors when

atmospheric pressure on your body lowers, will add up to the rule that flies and

insects are more bothersome just before a rain than at any other time.

 

8-Halo (True) - Sun or moon halos indicate a coming rain (or snow): the larger the

halo, the nearer the precipitation.

This is more likely to be true during warm weather than during midwinter. You are

seeing the sun (or moon) through the high crystals of cirriform clouds. When these

cover the whole sky, it is a sign of an approaching warm front when a long, slow

rain will occur.

 

9-Bees (Possibly) - Bees will not swarm before a storm.

All these bee sayings are from observations, and the beekeeper is always a good

weather prophet. He will tell you that "a swarm of bees in July, does little more

than bring a dry."

 

10-Crickets (True) - Crickets are accurate thermometers; they chirp faster when

warm and slower when cold.

They are extremely accurate. Count their chirps faster for fourteen seconds, then

add forty,and you have the temperature of wherever the cricket is.

 

11-Leaves (True) - When leaves show their backs, it will rain.

When trees grow, their leaves fall into a pattern according to the prevailing wind.

Therefore, when a storm wind (which is naturally a non-prevailing one) occurs, the

leaves will be ruffled backwards and show their light undersides.

 

12-Ditches (True) - When the ditch offends the nose, look for rain and stormy blows.

As the weight of high-pressure (fair-weather) atmosphere keeps a certain amount of

odors trapped, a lessening of pressure (as before a storm) will release the odors

from the walls, swamps, ditches, cellars, etc.

 

13-Smoke (True) - When smoke descends, good weather ends.

The instability of pre-storm pressures and humidity keeps smoke from chimneys or

bonfires from rising quickly, finally to curl downward in the face of a storm wind.

 

14-Squirrels (False) - When squirrels lay in a big store of nuts, look for a hard

winter.

Squirrels just do the best they can, and some years have better nut seasons than

others. Yet, the old-timers still observe the activities of the squirrels as a sign of

winter weather.