You don’t need a climatology degree to predict the weather. The top twelve proverbs that have been passed down for centuries will help you do it accurately and maybe even better than your local weather forecaster.

According to one senior climatologist at Environment Canada, David Phillips, some proverbs are reliable guides often because they were created by people who were in tune with changes in the natural environment and whose livelihoods depended on accurately predicting the weather, such as farmers, shepherds and sailors.

Let the poets predict the weather for you on your next trip. You might even be surprised at your own accuracy.

Top twelve weather proverbs:

1) Red sky at night, sailor's delight; Red sky in morning, sailor take warning.

2) A ring around the sun or moon, means rain or snow coming soon.

3) When grass is dry at morning light. Look for rain before the night.

4) Rain before seven, fine before eleven.

5) Sea gull, sea gull, sit on the sand, it's never good weather while you're on the land.

6) When stars shine clear and bright, we will have a very cold night.

7) A rainbow in the morning, is the shepherd's warning. A rainbow at night is the shepherd's delight.

8) When clouds appear like rocks and towers, the Earth's refreshed by frequent showers.

9) When the wind is in the east, 'tis neither good for man nor beast.

10) The higher the clouds the better the weather.

11) Dew on the grass, rain won't come to pass.

12) When campfire smoke descends, our nice weather ends.

Source: David Phillips, Senior Climatologist, Environment Canada
Photo Credit: Noaa Photo Library