Earth’s Weather
Proverbs…
Can they predict the
weather?
“Red at night, sailor's
delight. Red in the morning,
sailor’s warning.”
“Mare's tails and mackerel
scales make tall ships take
in their sails.”
“Clear moon, frost soon.”
"A year of snow, a year
of plenty."
=
“Ring around the Moon, rain
or snow soon.”
“When the dew is on the grass,
Rain will never come to pass.
When grass is dry at morning light,
Look for rain before the night.”
“If a cat washes her face
o’er her ear,
‘tis a sign the weather will
be fine and clear.”
“When chairs squeak
It’s about rain they speak.”
“A sunny shower won’t last an
hour.”
“When the ditch and pond
affect the nose,
Look out for rain and stormy
blows.”
Earth’s Weather
Proverbs…
What in the world do they
mean!?
“Red at night, sailor's delight. Red in
the morning, sailor’s warning.”
Means: Weather usually move from west to east. High
pressure (clear weather) pushes “stuff” in the atmosphere
down towards the surface of the Earth (reflecting red light). If
you were sailing west, and saw a red sky (@ night) you would
be sailing into high pressure (clear weather). If the sky was
red in the morning, high pressure would have already passed
you (probably meaning low pressure is ahead…which is
where storms usually occur).
“Mare's tails and mackerel scales
make tall ships take in their sails.”
Means: Both tails and
scales refer to
cirrocumulus clouds (a
warm front). Warm
fronts bring quickly
changing winds…which
could mean trouble for
a ships sail’s so…you
should probably bring
them in.
“Clear moon, frost soon.”
Means: If the moon is clear there are no
clouds in the sky (nothing to hold the heat
in). The ground will cool quickly allowing
for frost to form.
"A year of snow, a year of plenty."
=
Means: If the ground is always
covered in snow it stays really cold. If
the ground thaws and freezes multiple
times, wheat and grain seeds waiting
to grow are destroyed.
“Ring around the Moon, rain
or snow soon.”
Means: The “ring” around the Moon is
formed by light reflecting off of ice
particles in cirrus clouds. Cirrus clouds
are sometimes so high in the sky you
can’t see them (unless they are reflecting
light in a dark sky). Cirrus clouds are also
a sign that storms may be approaching.
“When the dew is on the grass,
Rain will never come to pass.
When grass is dry at morning light,
Look for rain before the night.”
Means: When you wake up, if the grass is wet (dew)
there is not enough moisture in the air to rain. If the
grass is dry, all the water is trapped in the air and will
probably fall out (rain) during the day.
“If a cat washes her face o’er her ear,
‘tis a sign the weather will be fine and clear.”
Means: Static electricity (which
occurs during dry weather) builds
up in a cat’s fur (especially around
its ears). To get rid of the static
electricity the cat adds water to its
fur (spit). So if a cat is licking its
paw, then rubbing its ears it might
be dry out! (clear weather).
“When chairs squeak
It’s about rain they speak.”
Means: Wood absorbs moisture and
swells (gets bigger). If there is a lot of
moisture in the air, a wooden chair will
absorb the water and swell…causing
the chair to squeak when it moves.
“A sunny shower won’t last an
hour.”
Means: Rain is formed by too much
water in the air. The Sun evaporates
water. So if it’s raining, and the Sun is
out…don’t worry. The sun will
evaporate the water soon, and the rain
will stop.
“When the ditch and pond affect
the nose,
Look out for rain and stormy
blows.”
Means: High pressure holds
the air (and smells) close to the
ground. Low pressure (when
storms usually occur) allows
the air (and smells) to rise up
so you really notice them!