November 2: National Weather Lore and Holiday

Weather Lore

Today is National Weather Lore Day! If you have ever heard a weather-related saying passed down by generations of people, you have heard weather lore. Before technology gave us an often-reliable weather forecast, people had to rely on tried and true weather-related signs and wise sayings to predict the upcoming weather conditions and plan their daily lives. These sayings were likely handed down from generation to generation, and today, many are still in use and can be heard even on local TV weather news segments.

Despite great advances in modern weather forecasting, many people still take weather lore quite seriously, especially in rural areas. They can be fun to note, use as a guide, and share, but it is important to note that most are not backed by scientific evidence. For example, the common saying, “Red sky at night, sailor’s delight; red sky in morning, sailor take warning” may have some truth to it as far as predicting fair or stormy weather, but not because of the color of the sky. The red color in the sky is caused by the scattering of sunlight in the atmosphere and usually indicates the position of the sun in the sky relative to the observer and not the actual weather conditions.

Although weather lore can be interesting to discuss, it is essential to remember that these sayings are not a reliable way to predict the weather. If you are planning an outdoor event or have weather-sensitive activities, check the latest weather forecast before making any decisions.

Here are a few other fun November weather-related sayings:

• If the first three days of November are foggy, there will be fog throughout the month.
• When it thunders in November, there will be a mild winter.
• A green Christmas makes a fat churchyard.
• November fog, mild winter.
• November's hailstorms, next July's gales.
• If November has too much ice, the following summer will bring little that is nice.
• When November mornings are hazy, so will be the following May.
• A cold November is the sign of a hard winter.
• When spiders spin their webs in November, it will be a cold winter.

November 2: National Holiday

November 2nd is also the All Souls Day holiday. The day is usually observed by Roman Catholics to commemorate the faithful departed, and it often involves visiting cemeteries and praying for the souls of those who have died. The day is not a federal holiday in the United States, so most businesses and schools remain open.