Category Weather & Climate

          Pine Cones make one of the best natural weather indicators. The scales of a pine cone open out when the weather is dry and close up when the air is humid — a good sign that rain is coming. The natural state of the cone is closed — the scales are shrivelling up when it is dry. When the air is moist, the cone becomes flexible again and returns to its regular shape.

          There are two main types of superstitions tying plants and animals to weather forecasting: Those that imply that the flora and fauna “know” what the coming season (typically winter), will bring, and those that rely on the physics, chemistry and biology of living things responding to changing conditions. The former generally don’t hold up — plants and animals react to their past or present environments, they don’t predict the future — but there’s definitely hope for the latter.

          For example, some say that a profusion of pine cones in fall means a cold winter to follow. This one’s a bust: Actually, pine trees can take three years to fully grow cones, and varying their cone production from year to year helps them throw off predators. However, you can use pine cones to predict weather in another way: watching as they open or close.

          Pine cones are the procreative parts of pine trees. Male versions produce pollen, and pollenated female forms yield seeds. Under dry conditions, the outer parts of the cones’ scales dry more than the inner parts, causing the cone to open. This is good news for the tree, since dry, calm weather provide a better environment for seed dispersal. In wet weather, the scales absorb moisture and swell shut, shielding the seeds until better days roll around.

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          A piece of seaweed is an excellent indicator of humidity. Any moisture in the seaweed evaporates when the air is dry, making it brittle and hard to the touch. When humidity levels increase, the seaweed absorbs moisture again, making it expand and become soft. A high level of moisture in the air is a sure sign that rain will follow soon after. Pieces of seaweed are often seen hanging outside the houses in seaside towns.

          The tradition is to hang dried seaweed outside with a nail. If the seaweed stays dry the weather will be sunny and dry. If the seaweed is wet and flexible, as if it had just been from the ocean, then rain is coming.

          The origin of this tradition is unknown, but the kernel of truth is valid. Seaweeds are able to dehydrate and re-hydrate over and over. If there is enough moisture in the air the dried seaweed will re-hydrate. It turns out that moisture in the air can be a decent indicator of rain.

          Over the weekend, people in the USA sought weather advice from a rodent. Groundhog Day (Feb. 2nd) is a superstitious tradition where if a groundhog emerging from its burrow on this day sees its shadow due to clear weather, it will retreat to its den and winter will persist for six more weeks, and if it does not see its shadow because of cloudiness, spring will arrive early.  There are many different superstitions across cultures to predict weather; some have a kernel of truth while others are outright ridiculous.

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          It is often said that when cows lie down in a field, rain is on the way. This piece of folklore is based on the idea that the cows can sense dampness in the air, so they lie down to make sure they have a dry space to stay. As much as this saying is well known, it is also rarely accurate. Cows will lie down when they are tired, not just when they think it might rain, so they are probably not the best weather forecasters!

          Animal behavior has long been a favorite weather indicator, and a whole herd of superstitions crowd around cows. It’s said, for example, that a cow fed its own hairs will forget its previous home, or that a cow with a piece of its tail lopped off will never run away [source: Farmer’s Almanac].

          Cows have a long history as weather predictors, too. One superstition claims that a cow lies down when rain is coming. Given that cows lie down for a variety of reasons, including cud chewing, it’s tempting to dismiss this claim as “udderly” ridiculous, but further rumination suggests that it might have a leg to stand on after all. The reason? A possible, albeit tenuous, link between crouching cows and wet weather: body heat.

          It turns out that cows tend to stand more often when their bodies overheat, so an upright Guernsey could arguably mean hotter weather while a seated shorthorn implies cooling weather or a storm a’ brewin’. Still, we wouldn’t bet the farm on it, as this maxim is likely a case of over-milking a coincidence.

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          The saying “red sky at night, shepherd’s delight; red sky in morning, shepherd’s warning” probably originated in Europe. There, prevailing winds bring weather systems from the west, so a clear red sky at sunset is thought to indicate the arrival of good weather. A similar sight in the eastern skies at dawn could suggest that the fine weather is passing away.

          The complete saying states: Red sky in morning, sailors warning; red sky at night, sailors delight. This saying only applies to mid-latitude locations (winds are easterly in the tropics / in the high latitudes the sun rises and sets at a large deviation from the east-west trajectory). Storm systems in the middle latitudes generally move west to east. A red sky in the morning implies the rising sun in the east is shining on clouds to the west and conditions are clear to the east. Clouds moving from the west (especially upper level cirrus) indicate an approaching storm system. A red sky at night implies the sun (setting in the west) is shining on clouds to the east and conditions are clear to the west (because the sun can be seen setting). If you can see the sunset, the sky will be redder. Clouds to the east indicate an existing storm system in the middle latitudes. Upper level clouds (especially cirrus) are noted for giving the sky a reddish hue during dawn or dusk. As a mid-latitude cyclone approaches, it is the upper level cirrus that are seen first, followed by lower clouds. The approach of upper level cirrus from the west often indicates an approaching storm system. The sky will not be as red at night if a storm system is approaching because the sun is setting behind the clouds approaching from the west. A red sky at night implies “the storm system moving through has ended!”; The clouds have broken and the sun is shining on and reddening the exiting clouds. The sun will continue to shine on clouds for a period of time after the sun has dipped below the horizon (especially cirrus). Keep in mind this saying was developed before satellite, radar and modern meteorological knowledge. Much of the knowledge of an approaching storm system back then was cloud and wind patterns. Of course, this saying (weather folklore) has some profound problems such as:

(1) The sky can be “reddish” near the sun at dawn and dusk (with or without clouds)
(2) Storm systems do not always move straight west to east

(3) Cirrus can occur without a storm system approaching or leaving. Clouds can cover one side of the sky or the other without being directly associated with a storm system.

(4) The meteorological sailor may delight at an approaching storm system even while taking precautions at the same time

(5) Rarely do the clouds from an approaching or exiting storm system only cover 1/2 of the eastern or western sky. The saying represents an ideal case.

SUMMARY: If you can see the sunrise but the west part of the sky is dark: look out for approaching bad weather. If you can see the sunset: the weather conditions will be nice.

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          People have been forecasting the weather for thousands of years, based on changes seen in the world around them. Many such observations are little more than folklore and superstition, but it is true that certain plants and animals can detect variations in the air that people cannot, providing us with a natural sign of a change in the weather.

          When it comes to predicting the weather by using nature signs, old civilizations were masters in doing it. If you’re on a wilderness trip without checking the weather forecast before, there are plenty of ways to read the language of nature and tell what the weather will be like in the next hours and even days.

          It’s of extreme importance to know what climate you are going to face on a wild adventure because you need to stay safe and take precautions if there’s a storm coming closer. Predicting weather is a crucial skill that every hiking and backpacking enthusiast should learn.

         Reading the height and the shape of the clouds is something you must learn if you want to have weather accuracy. High and white clouds mean a sunny and bright day. Black and low clouds are a sign of a rainstorm. A grey veil formed by clouds means that you need to run to a shelter.

        A red sky at dusk and dawn is one of the most beautiful views that we all enjoy, especially near the beach. If the sky is red at dusk, it means that the next day will be sunny. On the contrary, a red sky at dawn means that the low pressure air is bringing moisture and rain.

        Ancient people closely observed the behavior of animals to predict weather changes. Watch animals to see how their behavior changes with the weather change. For example, insect-eating birds like swallows fly low right before the rain, and ants tend to build their anthills with higher, steeper sides. Also, if you notice that the bees and butterflies disappear from the flowers they usually visit; it means the storm is coming.

       The flower’s scent is strongest just before the rain because aromas spread more when there is moisture in the air. You may also notice the sweet, sharp smell of ozone just before a summer storm as it is carried to lower altitudes by the storm’s downdraft. So, if you notice an unusually strong smell, it often means rain is on the way.

       If you see milky-white rings around the Sun or Moon, it’s a sign of extreme humidity and moisture coming closer to the Earth’s surface.

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            At Sea, weather conditions are monitored by ships, which take measurements of pressure and sea and air temperatures. Ships may be used to launch weather balloons. Free-floating buoys are also used to collect weather data. They drift with ocean currents, transmitting sea-level weather details to satellites. They are much less expensive to maintain than specialist weather ships.

            Marine weather forecasting is the process by which mariners and meteorological organizations attempt to forecast future weather conditions over the Earth’s oceans. Mariners have had rules of thumb regarding the navigation around tropical cyclones for many years, dividing a storm into halves and sailing through the normally weaker and more navigable half of their circulation. Marine weather forecasts by various weather organizations can be traced back to the sinking of the Royal Charter in 1859 and the RMS Titanic in 1912.

            The wind is the driving force of weather at sea, as wind generates local wind waves, long ocean swells, and its flow around the subtropical ridge helps maintain warm water currents such as the Gulf Stream. The importance of weather over the ocean during World War II led to delayed or secret weather reports, in order to maintain a competitive advantage. Weather ships were established by various nations during World War II for forecasting purposes, and were maintained through 1985 to help with transoceanic plane navigation.

            Voluntary observations from ships, weather buoys, weather satellites, and numerical weather prediction have been used to diagnose and help forecast weather over the Earth’s ocean areas. Since the 1960s, numerical weather prediction’s role over the Earth’s seas has taken a greater role in the forecast process. Weather elements such as sea state, surface winds, tide levels, and sea surface temperature are tackled by organizations tasked with forecasting weather over open oceans and seas. Currently, the Japan Meteorological Agency, the United States National Weather Service, and the United Kingdom Met Office create marine weather forecasts for the Northern Hemisphere.

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