By Tom Poland: A Southern Writer
The weather experts predict a warmer winter than usual. That assures me we’ll get snow this winter. Meteorology is the science of studying the atmosphere’s processes and phenomena. Remember the projected path of Helene? Tells you a lot. How would you like to predict the weather? Maybe you can.
Months earlier, some Greenwood garden club members had read my column about a pine cone’s ability to predict rain. In flies an email. “Will you speak to our club on other ways nature predicts the weather?”
So, there I am speaking at the Greenwood Country Club. “I have to be careful about what I write,” I told the ladies of the Laurel Garden Club. “People think of writers as subject matter experts when they’re experts for a few hours at best.”
One lady gave me a “weather stick,” which I attached to the interior of my deck. I’ll give you today’s forecast in a bit, but first we have some learning to do. Weeks prior to my talk I did some research, which revealed some Farmers Almanac kind of things. Nature’s weather predictors hide all around us in plain sight. Take that pine cone. Pine cones close if rain’s on the way; they open for fair weather. Frogs croak more when rain’s on the way. Makes sense. Other things seem puzzling. A ring around the moon means rain’s on the way. Here’s the connection. High cirrus clouds almost always hint of distant storm systems. High thin clouds can also forecast clear, cold weather’s coming.
In late November when the wind rages, I don’t need a weatherman to tell me a cold front is imminent. I know the temperature’s about to plunge. Some things defy reasoning, however. Cats wash behind their ears when rain’s on the way. I’ve never seen a cat wash behind its ears. Have you? And what’s it washing?
Some things just seem obvious. Birds lay low when a storm is coming. They can sense barometric pressure changes. Some storms, however, just wreak absolute havoc. That hurricane killed a lot of birds. My sister, Deb, sent me a photo of a grey-yellow bird speared by a broken limb. The bird couldn’t be identified such was it mangled.
Insects get in on the act too. When Ladybugs invade your house cold weather is coming. I’ve seen that. And it was in cold weather. Check. Squirrels hoarding acorns early means a cold, hard winter is coming. I’ve seen that too. Check.
Tulips often close before a storm hits. I’ve not noticed that. Spiders leave the center of their web and retreat to more secure places when stormy weather’s arriving. Makes sense. I’m usually inside when storms strike. I’m not outside seeing what spiders are up to. (Not a big fan of spiders, as you know.)
It’s said buzzards relocate to avoid hurricanes and tornadoes, but not snowstorms. Well, our Southern buzzards have little to worry about there, (except this winter). Check out pasturelands. Cows predict the weather too. Upright cows mean no rain is coming. Cows are said to lie down before it rains.
Keep an eye on your dog. Dogs can smell when rain is coming. They smell lightning’s ozone too. Their sharp ears hear far away thunder that we can’t detect. They sense lightning’s static electricity too. And though they’re folklore and not tied to any animals, a red sky at night means sailor’s delight. Fair weather tomorrow. Red sky in morning, sailor take warning. Rainy weather’s coming.
Predicting’s one thing. Controlling the weather is quite another. Dad used to talk about snakes and when he killed one, he’d hang it in a tree. “Hang a snake in a tree,” he said, “and it will rain in three days.”
Here’s the forecast for Thursday, October 24. Expect clear, fair weather today. The weather stick is turned upwards, a good sign. And just to be sure, I checked the South Carolina ETV Weather Radar and guess what? They agree. Clear weather is ours for a few days.
Now my do-it-yourself forecaster look around your place and take note of your weather forecasters. Astound your friends with your weather prognostications.
