FAIR OR FOUL

Entries

• #962

  Of a change:—

  Long looked for
  Long last,
  Short notice,
  Soon past.

  Brookline, Mass.
• #963

  From twelve till two
  Tells what the day will do.

  New England.
• #964

  If it rains before seven
  It will drip before eleven.

  Eastern Maine.
• #965

  If it rain before seven
  It will quit before eleven.

  Prince Edward Island and, Maine, Massachusetts, and Northern Ohio.
• #966

  If a storm clears off in the night, pleasant weather will last but a few hours.

  Northern Ohio.
• #967

  In uncertain or threatening weather it is said that if you can see a piece of blue sky big enough to make a pair of breeches, it will clear off.

  Maine, Massachusetts, and Northern Ohio.
• #968

  Variant: If you can see enough blue sky in the west to make an old woman’s apron, it will clear off.

  Eastern Maine.
• #969

  Clocks and watches tick louder before mild weather.

  Scilly Cove, N. F.
• #970

  Cobwebs on the grass are a sign of fair weather.

  General in the United States.
• #971

  If every dish is cleaned at a given meal, then look for fair weather the following day.

  Pennsylvania Germans.
• #972

  Fog lying in valleys is a sign of a “civil” day.

  Bay Roberts, N. F.
• #973

  If hoar frost remains after sunrise, the day will be fine; if not, the day will be wet.

  Scilly Cove, N. F.
• #974

  A load of hay passing means fair weather.

  Massachusetts.
• #975

  Rainbow in the morning,
  Sailors take warning;
  Rainbow at night,
  Sailor’s delight.

  General in Canada and the United States.
• #976

  A rainbow is a sign of showers.

  Prince Edward Island.
• #977

  Rain falling while the sun is shining indicates more showers.

  Prince Edward Island and Northern Ohio.
• #978

  Rain falling while the sun shines is a sign it will rain next day.

  Methuen, Mass.
• #979

  Rain falling while the sun is shining means that the devil is beating his wife with a codfish.

  General in the United States.
• #980

  Thunder in the morning,
  All the day storming;
  Thunder at night
  Is the sailor’s delight.

• #981

  Red at night
  Sailor’s delight;
  Red in the morning,
  Sailors take warning.

  Maine and Eastern Massachusetts.
• #982

  Evening red and morning gray
  Will speed the traveler on his way.
  Evening gray and morning red
  Will bring the rain upon his head.

  Massachusetts, New York, and Ohio.
• #983

  Evening red and morning gray,
  You’ll surely have a pleasant day.

  New York.
• #984

  Red sun, hot day to-morrow.

• #985

  High wind at dawn is a sign of a “civil” (calm) day.

  Newfoundland.
• #986

  Sun’s “hounds” (a sort of halo) before the sun denote dirty weather; after the sun, denote fine weather.

  In Prince Edward Island and the United States these halos are called “sun-dogs,” and are said to be a sign of coming rain.

  Scilly Cove, N. F.
• #987

  Much snow during the winter denotes good crops next year.

  New Harbor, N. F.
• #988

  If the stars are scarce, big, and dull, it portends mild weather in winter. If large and bright, it portends frost in winter.

  Newfoundland.
• #989

  Stars twinkling are a sign of bad weather.

  Labrador and New Harbor, N. F.