Let It Snow?

     

    How about this weather we have been having?  Yesterday I believe the temperature got to almost 72 degrees and its December!  I was talking with my sister Heather today and she said that Johnny Holton of Reelsboro was putting straw out around his shrubs and bushes.  She had asked him, “Why the rush?”  He said, “Well, it’s going to snow in a couple of weeks. Can’t you tell by this warm weather we are having?  Anytime we have a warm front in December, it is going to be followed by a strong cold front that will produce the white stuff.”   

   His comments to her prompted me to look into the old sayings and folklore in weather predicting.  For centuries, farmers and sailors have always relied on weather patterns to predict the weather.  Even antiquated, simple instruments like the barometer continue to predict weather along with the new technological instruments.  Many times I have seen my grandfather walk up to the barometer on the wall and see if the pressure was rising or falling.  Looking for a change in the weather he'd say.

   Weather lore is part of being a Goose Creek Islander.  We have all heard the saying 'red sky in the morning, sailor’s warning or red sky at night, sailor’s delight.'  But there have been other myths, old wives tales and proverbs to predict the weather. I have included a few that I have heard.  I am quite sure there are more and there is probably some debate to their accurateness or predictability. 

Aches and Pains

            How many of us have heard someone say, its going to rain, my elbows, knees, and joints are achy.

Lying Cows

            The old saying is that cows lying in the field indicate rain is on the way. 

Rainbow in the Morning

            It is raining to the west of us and we are sure to get rain.

Thunder in the Winter

            It will snow in a few weeks.

Ring Around the Moon

            Snow or rain will come soon.

Chimney Smoke

            If the smoke descends, fair weather is soon to end.

Squeaking Doors and Catchy Drawers

            When the rain comes, it will pour.

Fish Bite Best

            When the wind is out of the west.

What do you think….think we may have some ‘white stuff’ for Christmas?