You can use grass or flower petals to determine the direction of the wind. Throw your grass or flower petals into the wind and watch the way that it blows or falls. You can also detect the direction of the wind by wetting your finger and holding it out. The side of your finger that gets cool will tell you from which direction the wind is blowing.
When smoke spirals downwards, it means that bad weather is very close. The low-pressure system is already in place over your area.
At this point, you should be able to observe other signs of a storm, such as dark clouds. [3] X Research source
If you are near a swamp, you will likely smell swamp gases right before a storm. [5] X Research source Swamp gas smells like rotten eggs because it comes from decaying vegetation. [6] X Research source
Pine cones can also tell you if it’s humid because they will stay closed if the humidity is high but will open if the air is dry. [8] X Research source If you live in an area that always has high humidity, rely on other observations to predict the weather.
White, wispy clouds usually mean that the weather will be clear. Flat clouds mean that the air is stable, while fluffy clouds mean that it is unstable. [10] X Research source Smaller puffy clouds may look calm, but they often build over the course of the day. If you see these clouds, it could mean a storm is brewing. [11] X Research source
Black clouds mean that there is a coming storm that does not have strong winds. Brown clouds mean that there is a coming storm that does have strong winds. White clouds usually mean good weather, though a storm could be on its way later in the day. [13] X Research source Gray clouds usually mean a new or a light storm. However, gray skies mean that the storm is affecting a large area and may remain for awhile. [14] X Research source
Lowering, gathering clouds are a sign of bad weather coming. Clouds that are rising and spreading out indicate that the weather is clearing. [15] X Research source
The redness can appear as a bold orange to a deep red. If you see a red sky in the evening, you can rest easy. This means that there are clear skies in the west coming toward you, while the bad weather is to the east moving away from you. You can use the following rhyme: “Red sky at night is a shepherd’s delight. Red sky in the morning is a shepherd’s warning. ”[16] X Research source
If you see a rainbow in the east, then it means that the weather has already passed over you, so clear skies are likely ahead. Remember the old saying, “Rainbow in the morning gives you fair warning. ”[17] X Research source
Remember the old saying, “Ring around the moon? Rain real soon. ” A ring around the moon means a warm front is coming, which usually brings rain. The ring is caused by ice crystals that are passing over the moon. [19] X Research source A double halo around the moon could signal strong winds in the coming storm. [20] X Research source Another old saying is, “Clear moon, frost soon. ” A clear sky means that there are no clouds to hold in the earth’s heat. This means that the weather will be cooler that night and the next morning, even if it’s not cold enough to frost. [21] X Research source
A lack of stars means that there is excessive cloud coverage from an oncoming weather system. If many stars are visible, then the sky is clear.
If the birds are flying high in the sky, then there will likely be fair weather. If you’re near the sea, look for seagulls perched on the beach, which could indicate that a storm is coming. Watch for large groups of roosting birds. Birds also become quiet before a storm. Singing and chirping birds could indicate good weather.
This only applies to cows, not other livestock.
Snakes can even predict earthquakes. If you see a snake out of its nest behaving erratically, there could be an earthquake coming. [28] X Research source Snakes usually come out of their nests in sunny weather to warm themselves. They don’t like the cold because they are cold-blooded. [29] X Research source A snake out of its nest when it’s not a warm, sunny day is an indication that bad weather is coming.
