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Weather Folklore Some facts & resources too... Before satellite weather pictures, before accurate measuring instruments before the barometer or the thermometer, before the position of Weather Forecaster had been thought of, most folks worked in the open and observed the weather every day. These folks observed patterns in the weather, and as they discussed these patterns with friends and neighbors adages developed. The adages found below have endured generations quite simply because they have proved to be true over and over again. Two verses which refer to night time observations... === "A change in the moon brings on a change in the weather" === "If all stars are out at night it will be a nice day tomorrow" Verses that refer to the wind... "When the wind is blowing in the North No fisherman should set forth, When the wind is blowing in the East, 'Tis not fit for man nor beast, When the wind is blowing in the South It brings the food over the fish's mouth, When the wind is blowing in the West, That is when the fishing�s best! " === "Every wind has its weather." === "No weather is ill, if the wind be still." === Do business with men when the wind is from the westerly, for then the barometer is high. The strongest and most persistent wind is found in the Jet Stream, a river of eastbound air a few hundred miles wide curving like a snake 6 miles above the ground. Meteorologists track weather balloons to determine how fast the wind is blowing in the jet stream. These are winds that steer the huge masses of warm and cold air generally from west to east across the country. During the summer months, a typical wind speed in the Jet Stream would be around 50 MPH. But, in the winter, the speed is more like 150 MPH. These verses use clouds as an indicator... === High clouds indicate, fine weather will prevail, lower clouds mean rain. === The higher the clouds, the better the weather. "When clouds look like rocks and towers, the earth will be refreshed by showers." A rainbow as the weather indicator. === Rainbow in the morning, travelers take warning; rainbow at night, traveler's delight. === Rainbow in the eastern sky, the morrow will be dry. Rainbow in the west that gleams, rain falls in streams. Cats have the reputation of being weather wise, an old notion which has given rise to the most extensive folklore. It is almost universally believed that good weather may be expected when the cat washes herself, but bad weather may be expected when she licks her coat against the grain or washes her face over her ears, or sits with her tail to the fire. Can cats predict the weather?
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