Forecasting The Weather

Using modern technology, meteorologists can now predict the weather most accurately. They can even forecast long range weather. Before radio and television came into every household the people then relied on signs from the environment, nature, birds, animals, sea, moon, stars and the sky.

Among such signs were the location of berries on trees or bushes, the movements and activities of hens, as well as the positioning of frog spawn in ponds. If berries grew high up on the bushes, then a severe and frost winter was expected.

A dry Springtime was anticipated if frog spawn was seen in the centre of a pond, which is normally the deepest part. As water levels decreased, the spawn in the middle had a better chance of survival.

The activity of hens, particularly on a wet morning, was also closely scrutinised. If the hens sheltered from the rain, then the weather was expected to improve later in the day. But if the hens were seen pecking and scraping for food on a wet morning, it was assumed that there was little hope of any improvement in the weather for the remainder of that day.

Furthermore, sheep and goats came down from the higher slopes of mountain sides when snow or extremely cold weather was expected. It was believed that people could also predict future weather conditions from the actual sound of the sea. The sea's noise increases or 'roars' when storms are approaching. The amount of froth on the water's surface also increases.

As in many parts of the country, superstitious folk believe that if it rained on 15th July (St Swithin's Day) then similar weather would follow for the next forty days.

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