24 votes

Red sky at night and other weather lore

7 comments

  1. [6]
    Alanh02
    Link
    Mostly related to the UK (it is the MetOffice after all) it does explain the facts behind many old sayings What I did wonder is how many of them have reached other shores, I mean "Red Sky at...

    Mostly related to the UK (it is the MetOffice after all) it does explain the facts behind many old sayings

    What I did wonder is how many of them have reached other shores, I mean "Red Sky at Night" probably has but does anyone even know who St Swithun even was?

    Also I would be interested to hear some country specific ones.

    Typical British Bloke, always talking about the weather

    7 votes
    1. [4]
      lackofaname
      Link Parent
      Canada here (with family from middle and eastern Canada), I'm familiar with: 'Red sky in morning', especially the sailor's variant 'mackeral sky' the term, but not the saying Very familiar with...

      Canada here (with family from middle and eastern Canada), I'm familiar with:

      • 'Red sky in morning', especially the sailor's variant
      • 'mackeral sky' the term, but not the saying
      • Very familiar with 'cows lying down going to rain' saying
      • Also 'too cold to snow'

      None of the others.

      Not sure if I'm a good reference of Canadians' understanding of these, but there ya go.

      4 votes
      1. [2]
        DeaconBlue
        Link Parent
        I have always enjoyed the "too cold to snow" quip. My dad has been known to say that at around -20C, but I have been with him while it was actively snowing at -35C. Like a lot of things, a severe...

        I have always enjoyed the "too cold to snow" quip. My dad has been known to say that at around -20C, but I have been with him while it was actively snowing at -35C.

        Like a lot of things, a severe confirmation bias keeps this one going. It doesn't usually snow when it's painfully cold outside, but that in no way means that it can't.

        3 votes
        1. lackofaname
          Link Parent
          Im sure Im guilty of that saying tbh :) Though, not because I believe it 100%, but like you say, its less likely to snow heavily. My fave is probably the cows saying. I dont think anyone takes it...

          Im sure Im guilty of that saying tbh :) Though, not because I believe it 100%, but like you say, its less likely to snow heavily.

          My fave is probably the cows saying. I dont think anyone takes it seriously, but I still like to go one further and give a percent chance of rain based on the rough number of cows lying down :D

          1 vote
      2. thefilmslayer
        Link Parent
        Also from Canada. I remember hearing "red in the morning, sailor take warning, red sky at night, sailor's delight" frequently growing up in BC.

        Also from Canada. I remember hearing "red in the morning, sailor take warning, red sky at night, sailor's delight" frequently growing up in BC.

        2 votes
    2. [2]
      Comment removed by site admin
      Link Parent
      1. LongAndElegant
        Link Parent
        It's so funny you would mention the pine cone thing. My direct neighbor recently had a huge pine trimmed, so it's very noticable from where I sit in the house. All the pinecones were smooth, but...

        It's so funny you would mention the pine cone thing. My direct neighbor recently had a huge pine trimmed, so it's very noticable from where I sit in the house. All the pinecones were smooth, but now they are all open. Was it related to the trim or the weather? It did turn recently nice, weather wise.

        2 votes
  2. godzilla_lives
    Link
    American from the Deep South here, I've always heard, "Pink sky at night, sailor's delight. Pink sky at morning, sailor's warning." It's so interesting to find out where this originated from!

    American from the Deep South here, I've always heard, "Pink sky at night, sailor's delight. Pink sky at morning, sailor's warning." It's so interesting to find out where this originated from!

    6 votes