Nautical Weather Proverbs

Weather Proverbs:
The ability of a seaman to foretell weather by the appearance of the sky, change of wind direction, was handed down in the form of proverbs.

"Clear moon, frost soon."

"Mackerel skies and mares' tails:
Make tall ships carry short sails"

"Red sky at night, sailor's delight:
Red sky in the morning, sailors take warning."

"Rainbow in the morning, sailors take warning:
Rainbow toward night, sailors' delight."

"A backing wind says storms are nigh:
But a veering wind will clear the sky".

"Seagull, seagull, sit on the sand:
It's never good weather when you're on the land."

"When a halo rings the moon or sun:
The rain will come upon the run".

"If wooly fleeces deck the heavenly way,:
Be sure no rain will mar a summer's day."

"With the rain before the wind,:
Stays and topsails you must mind,
But with the wind before the rain,
Your topsails you may set again."

"When boat horns sound hollow,:
Rain will surely follow"

"Halo around the sun or moon, rain or snow soon."

"When the stars begin to huddle, the earth will soon become a puddle."

"When the bubbles of coffee collect in the center of the cup, expect fair weather. When they adhere to the cup, forming a ring, expect rain. If the bubbles separate without assuming any fixed position, expect changing weather"