WEATHER WISDOM

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3661, 24 October 1912, Page 7

WEATHER WISDOM

HOW TO READ THE SIGNS

A few simple hints on how to foretell the weather are given by the “fall Mall Gazette.” The following are a few of the more marked signs that were observed over a long period of years by Rear-Admiral Fitzroy, and recorded by him in a little known manual on the barometer, which the careful researcher will doubtless Ire able to obtain at the offices of the Hoard of Trade, by whom it was originally accepted and issued. Whether clear or cloudy, a rosy sky at sunset presages fine weather; a red sky in the morning, bad weather, or much wind ; a grey sky in the morning, fine weather; a high dawn (when the first indications of daylight are seen above a bank of clouds), wind ; a low dawn (when the day breaks on oi* near the horizon, the first streaks of light being very low down), fair weather. Soft-looking or delicate clouds foretell line weather, with moderate or 1 light breezes; hard-edged, oily-look-ing clouds, wind. A dark, gloomy, blue sky is windy; but a light, bright blue sky indicates fine weather.

A bright yellow sky at sunset presages wind; a pale yellow wet. Thus by the prevalence of red, yellow or grey tints the coming weather may be foreto'd very nearly. Small, inky-looking clouds foretell rain; light scud clouds driving .across heavy masses show wind and rain, but if alone may indicate wind only.

High upper clouds crossing the sun, moon or stars in a direction different from that of the lower clouds, or the wind then felt below, foretell change of wind. After fine clear weather, the first signs in the sky of. a coming change are usually light streaks or curls, wisps or mottled pachcs of white distant cloud, which increase, and are followed by an overcasting of murky vapor that grows into cloudiness. This appearance, more or less oily or watery, as wind or rain will prevail, is an infallible sign. Light, delicate, quiet tints of color, with soft, undefined forms of clouds, indicate and accompany fine weather ; but gaudy or unusual hues, with hard, definitely outlined clouds foretell rain, and probably strong wind. Misty clouds forming or hanging on heights show wind and rain coining, if thev remain, increase or descend. If they rise or disperse, the weather will improve or’become fine. When sea birds fly-out eainy and far to seaward, moderate'Hgmd and fair weather may lx; expected. When thev hang about the land or o\er it, sometimes flying inland, expect a strong wind, with stormy weat.iei. When birds of long flight, rooks, swallows or others, hang about home and fly up and down, or low, ram or wind may be expected. W hen amnials seeking sheltered pltvCes, instead of spreading over their usual range; when pigs carry straw to their sties; when smoke from chimneys does not ascend readily for straight upwards during calm), an unfavorable change is probable. . . . ~ l)ew is an indication of fine weather So is fog. Neither of these two formations occur under an overcast sky, or when there is much wind. One sees fog occasionally rolled away, as it WereT hv w ind, hut seldom or never found while it is blowing. Remarkable clearness of atmosphere near the horizon, and distant objects, such as hills, unusually visible, may he mentioned among the signs oi wet. if not wind, to he expected.