Unscientific Weather Forecasting - the finale

by Hattie Dyck

Breeder Judy Porteous, Chatsworth, Ontario, also notices the leaves turn when rain is coming and the seagulls fly on land. Also, she said, the robins sing a special song.

   Glendon Laffin, Truro Heights, remembers his friend Bill Bradley of Georgetown, Ontario, looking across the Niagara Escarpment to foretell the weather each season of the year. Bill, who enjoyed native forecasting said if you watched the weather three days before the sun crossed the equinox heralding the four seasons, you could forecast the weather all year round.

   John Kennedy, Pleasant Harbour, is a retired fisherman who used to set his lobster traps according to the weather. The traps were set in deeper water if there was a red sky in the east which meant a storm was coming. Mr. Kennedy’s grandmother, the late Betty Van Buskirk of Murphy’s Cove, used to say the hens flew up on the table and oiled their feathers before a rainstorm. Also, if a major storm was coming the horses would stand with their rear to the wind.

   Michael Marsden, Five Islands is a clam digger and his work depends on the weather. He says when you look out into the Minas Basin towards the five islands, if you see their reflection in the water it means that rain is coming.

   Sometimes, he says, the water is as clear as glass. Another way he foretells rain is when the sea gulls form a group and circle high in the sky. This means that rain is on its way. Cobwebs on the grass in the morning indicates a hot day to follow. His friend, Carol Tower, Halifax, says when the clam holes show up really good it’s a sign of rain.

   Fred Spicer, Parrsboro, is a part time fisherman. He looks to the clouds to forecast the weather. If he sees clouds that look like horse tails, it means a storm is coming. He also watches the movements of animals noting they group together and hide themselves when a storm is coming.

   George Spioneck, originally from Bass River, and now living in Mount Uniacke, claims when the birds cluster on the wires a storm is on its way.

The late Guy Lockhart, grandfather of Mike Deveau, Oxford, used to say when the leaves of the poplar tree turn silver and upside down it indicates a storm. One of his favorite sayings was “ Frost in the hollow, fine day to follow. Frost on the hill brings water to the mill.” 

   Earl Baker, Diligent River, looks to rolling of the leaves to tell when rain is on its way, and to dew on the morning grass.

Paul Armstrong, Ontario, has arthritis and it always causes pain in his joints before a storm. His wife Anna, who is originally from Amherst looks for rain when she sees puffy clouds that look like mountains.

   Donnie Tooker, Harmony, recalls his friend Goldie Rutledge, Truro, saying it won’t snow until the rivers are full.

Judge each day, not by the harvest you reap but by the seeds you sow.