1.It is wonderful how well some people can tell what kind of weather we are going to have.Shepherds and sailors,and other people who live much in the open air,are specially good at it.Boys and girls cannot expect to know the weather-signs so well;but there are some simple rules which may help them a good deal in this,if they wish to learn.
2.The sunset is a very good prophet of the weather.
If the clouds in the west look purplish-red,it is almost sure to be a good day on the morrow;but a yellow sunset generally foretells rain.
3.There is no more certain sign of wet weather than a ring or halo round the moon .The ring is caused by the moonlight shining through the moisture high up in the air;and the larger the halo,the sooner will this moisture turn into clouds and fall as rain.
4.There is a very old proverb about the rainbow as a weather-sign-"A rainbow in the morning Is the shepherd's warning;But a rainbow at night Is the shepherd's delight."
This is only true when the wind is in the west;but as the west wind is the most common one in this country,it is a very useful rule indeed.
5.Try if you can understand why this proverb is true.A rainbow is formed by the sun shining on falling rain-drops.Whenever you look at a rainbow,therefore,you have clouds and rain in front of you,and the sun shining behind you.A rainbow needs sunshine and rain at the same time.
6.If you see a rainbow in the morning,when the sun is in the east,the rain-clouds must be in the west.
As you stand looking at the rainbow,you feel the west wind blowing on your face,and very soon you will feel the rain also.The clouds drive towards you with the wind,and cover the whole sky.It is because a rainbow in the morning is a rainbow in the west,that"A rainbow in the morning Is the shepherd's warning."
7.in the evening the sun is in the west;so if a rainbow appears it will be in the east,and the rain-clouds will be there also.As you stand facing the rainbow,you feel the west wind blowing on your back,and you know that it is blowing these rain-clouds away from you.It is because a rainbow at night is a rainbow in the east,that"A rainbow at night Is the shepherd's delight."
8.Did you ever hear that birds are good weather prophets?That may seem very strange,but it is quite true.Take the swallows,for example.When you see them flying high,you may be sure that the weather is going to be fine;but when they keep low,skimming to the ground,rain is almost certainly coming.
9.Why is this,do you think?The reason is not difficult to understand.The swallow feeds upon flies and gnats,which he catches as he sweeps through the air.Now,flies and gnats like to be in warm air;so that when you see swallows flying high up,you may be sure that the flies and the warm air also are far above the ground.But while the air is warm,it is able to hold a great deal of moisture,and so there is little chance of its coming down as rain.
10.Then there are the sea-gulls .When we see them gather on the land,we may be almost sure that stormy weather is coming.This is not be cause they are seeking shelter from the storm,but because,like the swallows,they are seeking food.The fish on which they prey keep near the surface of the sea in fine weather,but go far down in storms;so the gulls are glad to come to land and feed on the earthworms that may be washed out of the ground by the rain.
11.Here is one other curious weather-sign.Anglers say that if,in spring,they see single magpies,they are sure to be unlucky,and catch little or nothing;but that when they meet the birds in pairs,they are sure to have a good day's fishing.The reason is,that in cold and stormy weather one magpie alone goes in search of food,while the other remains to keep the eggs or the young ones warm.But when the two parents go out together,it shows that the weather is warm and mild,and good for fishing.