Do these old weather lore rhymes still hold water today? And what do they have to do with fish?
Here at Farmers’ Almanac, one of our favorite topics is weather lore. Our most read weather lore tale is about the warning signs of a harsh winter, which we share every fall with our readers. But there are numerous other proverbs that have been passed down from our ancestors, who used nature to predict the future. How many of these weather lore proverbs involving fish have you heard?
If you like weather proverbs, you might be aware of a particular fish that appears in several of them:
Tall ships carry low sails because of mare’s tails and mackerel scales.
Although it is a beautiful rhyme, most people won’t understand it. What does it mean?.
This bit of weather lore isn’t exactly about fish. In the rhyme, cirrocumulus or altocumulus clouds—middle-level, heap-like clouds that frequently appear in rows, resembling sand ripples in a tidal pool or, more precisely, the scales on a mackerel—are referred to as “mackerel scales.” Mares’ tails, which are thin, wispy cirrus clouds that are a sign of powerful high-level winds, are described.
These clouds are affected by swiftly moving, changing winds that are typical of an approaching low-pressure system.
The combination of “mare’s tail” cirrus clouds and “mackerel scales” altocumulus clouds signaled worsening weather conditions, so the sails should be lowered to protect the ship from high winds and precipitation.
Another old proverb about the weather also features the scaly fish:
Mackerel sky, mackerel sky, Never long wet, never long dry.
A mackerel sky is referred to as such when it is covered in the same puffy altocumulus and cirrocumulus clouds that are arranged in a wave pattern, with blue sky peeping through to resemble the mackerel’s scales.
When altocumulus clouds were visible and the air pressure started to drop, mariners could anticipate rain. However, it would only mean rain for a brief period of time (“never long wet”) because the precipitation will move quickly along with the warm front.
Speaking of fish, you might be familiar with another popular weather proverb involving trout:
Trout jump high When rain is nigh.
When rain is “nigh” or approaching, a low-pressure system is typically present. This can cause plant particles trapped at the lake’s bottom to rise, providing food for small fish. Of course, larger fish like trout eat the smaller fish as food. So you may see them jumping as they feast.
To get weather forecasts today, we use weather apps on our smartphones and rely on our neighborhood meteorologists (as well as your Farmers’ Almanac, of course). Even sailors use cutting-edge technology, such as weather buoys in the oceans, to help them navigate. But despite the fact that these proverbs are no longer widely used, we can see that they are still true.
This article was published by the staff at Farmers Almanac. Contact us if you have a query or a suggestion for a piece of writing!
Don’t Get Stuck! Your car’s floor mats can help you get un-stuck from snowy or muddy conditions in a pinch. Place your front floor mats under the spinning tire to give you some traction. Just don’t forget to retrieve them after you get moving!
Question:
What does a mackerel sky mean?
FAQ
What is the saying about mackerel sky?
The simple part is this: any kind of mackerel sky indicates that change is likely to occur. The associated weather proverb, “Mackerel sky, mackerel sky – never long wet, never long dry,” reflects this. ‘.
Does a mackerel sky mean rain?
It’s a term used to describe a sky that is covered in the same puffy altocumulus and cirrocumulus clouds that are arranged in a wave pattern, with blue sky peeking through to resemble the scales on a mackerel’s back. When altocumulus clouds were visible and the air pressure started to drop, mariners could anticipate rain.
Why are Cirrocumulous clouds also called mackerel sky?
A “mackerel sky” is what the sky looks like when these clouds cover a large portion of it and resemble fish scales. Cirrocumulus clouds, which are frequent in the winter and signal fair but chilly weather
What Colour is a mackerel sky?
The sky is dominated by a brownish-gray cloud that creates a sea of rippling clouds.