Weather Forecasting in the Old Days

Out here along the coast, the weather is unpredictable, even today, with expert meteorologists and a sea of satellites at their disposal. But before modern forecasting, coastal people had to read the signs themselves. And they took it seriously. They watched the sky, the birds, the sun, and the animals. A red sunset meant good weather. A ring around the moon warned of rain. If the seagulls flew high, the skies would be clear. When the sheep huddled together, a storm might be brewing. People read the patterns in seaweed and foam, in air humidity and scent. Wisdom was passed down through generations. Both men and women developed a sharp eye, and an inner barometer. Even after radio and television arrived, many still trusted Grandpa’s gaze more than the forecast from the city. Some had their own signals: Three crows flying east meant a storm. Four heading west; calm seas. And what kind of weather do you think was coming, if your wife came running after you with a rolling pin?