Weather Lore
Weather lore is a broad ranging subject. Before the establishment of scientific weather forecasting systems, predicting the weather relied on observation. The movements of planets, the seasonal changes in the behaviour of animals, birds and plants, together with changes in clouds, wind direction and other events were all used as signifiers of immediate weather conditions. Much weather lore was entirely inaccurate, but some had a basis in fact. This exhibition will cover a range of weather lore subjects from the accurate to the absurd.
Astrology
The positions and conjunctions of the planets were thought to have significant impacts on the weather. Each planet was associated with an astrological sign. The combination of these characteristics signified wet, dry and windy weather and where two planets were in conjunction, this was believed to lead to more extreme weather.
The signification of the aspects of the Planets among themselves: for the judgement of the weather (1605) by Leonard Digges (1515-1559)The Royal Society
Within the pseudo-science of astrology, the alignment of planets was taken to predict the weather.
Here, Leonard Digges states that the conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter would bring drought, flood or gales depending on their association with the astrological elements of fire, water and air.
The Sun and the Moon (1480) by Nicolaus Pergaminus and Mayno de' MayneriThe Royal Society
This early printed book turns the natural elements into conscious creatures that people should appease. The first dialogue, which covers the Sun and Moon includes sayings about their effect on the weather.
Clouds
The appearance of the sky and approaching clouds was, and indeed still is, a popular element of weather lore. Unlike some other areas of the subject, weather lore based on clouds was often reasonably accurate as it was founded on close observation.
The Shepherds Legacy (1670) by John Claridge, aka the Shepherd of BanburyThe Royal Society
Despite their age, these observations from 1669 by the Shepherd of Banbury were so accurate that many were included in the Meteorological Glossary in the early 20th century.
This includes the adage better known as "Red sky at night, Shepherds' delight; Red sky in the morning, Shepherds' warning".
Weather Wisdom - Cloud (1869) by Richard InwardsThe Royal Society
Cirrus clouds and mackerel skies (a form of cirro-cumulus clouds) were associated with changing weather. Both are early signs of an approaching frontal system.
Before Luke Howard systematised such formations in 1803, clouds were categorised using colourful descriptive language. Cirrus clouds look 'as if scratched by a hen'.
Book of Knowledge, Thunder (1685)The Royal Society
Thunderstorms were thought to be caused by wet and dry 'humours' meeting in a cloud and disagreeing with each other!
Different types of lightning were identified and thought to be associated with different properties.
The Sky and the Earth (1480) by Nicolaus Pergaminus and Mayno de' MayneriThe Royal Society
This wood cut image [dating from 1480], which introduces a dialogue on the sky and the Earth, illustrates accurately a meteorological phenomenon: the beautiful crepuscular rays shining through clouds.
Wind
The direction of the wind was thought to announce many weather types. Some of the lore was accurate when it related to dominant winds or specific air masses but before atmospheric pressure was understood, most theories about the wind were fanciful.
A book of knowledge, deliver'd by the ancient philosophers, Pythagoras, Haley, Ptolomy, Erra Pater (1685)The Royal Society
The wind was thought to be responsible for earthquakes, for example. Winds trapped underground might cause the ground to shake.
Weather Wisdom - Wind (1869) by Richard InwardsThe Royal Society
Weather lore is often contradictory, betraying a lack of understanding of the underlying meteorological processes. For example, a western wind might be associated with both wet and dry weather.
Animals
There are many hundreds of animal-related weather lore sayings. One of the most commonly heard, and least accurate, is the popular assumption that cows lying down are a sign of rain. Indeed, the majority of signs across the animal world are associated with rain.
Weather Wisdom - Animals etc. (1869) by Richard InwardsThe Royal Society
Signs of rain were associated with a variety of creatures, including bulls, oxen, donkeys, goats, sheep, pigs, rats, moles, hares, weasels, dogs, cats and birds. The only sign of fair weather listed here is an abundance of bats.
Inkwell in the Form of a Frog beside a Tree Stump (16th century) by Probably Paduan 16th CenturyNational Gallery of Art, Washington DC
European tree frogs were used to predict the weather during the 18th century. They were placed in glass jars with ladders. If they climbed the ladder it was a sign of good weather, if they stayed in the base of the jar it was a sign of rain.
Swallows And Wasp (1900s) by Artist: Ohara Koson, Publisher: Daikokuya (Matsuki Heikichi)Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art
Birds flying low to feed on insects are one of the more accurate signs of approaching rain, because insects will fly lower as low pressure moves in.
Contrarily, if the birds are hunting high in the sky - mimicking the movement of the frog on the ladder - this is a sign of good weather.
Weather Wisdom - Reptiles etc. (1869) by Richard InwardsThe Royal Society
Weather lore signs were also seen in a wide variety of reptiles and amphibians. Commonly all activities indicated rain.
Although folklore did not provide reliable evidence, it was a sign of the importance played by the weather in human societies and of the constant attempts to understand and predict it. To discover how 17th century scientists stepped away from weather lore and into science, browse to our story on "Founding a Science of the Weather".
All rights reserved © The Royal Society 2020
The digital and physical exhibits were curated by Dr Catherine Ross (National Meteorological Archive, Met Office) and Dr Louisiane Ferlier (The Royal Society).
