When our early ancestors came to what is now Graham County, they had a number of signs from observing nature that they went by concerning the weather.
Our recent cold spell would not have caught them by surprise.
Here are some tell-tale signs that frosty weather is on the horizon:
* When wood-burning in the fireplace makes a sound like someone walking in snow, it is going to snow;
* Hogs carrying sticks in their mouth is a sign of bad weather;
* If an owl hooting from one side of the mountain changes to the other side, the weather is going to change for the worse;
* A ring around the moon means dry weather;
* Sun dogs (vivid spots of color, often mostly-red) appear on each side of the sun. Sun dogs warn of an approaching storm. Moon dogs appear in the winter sky on each side of the moon, usually a new moon or full moon. They also foretell of a coming storm;
* If a snow lies on the ground for a number of days without melting, it is waiting for another snow;
* Thick shucks on corn – or heavy fur on animals – is a sign of a bad winter;
* Songbirds getting restless and flying around a lot means a storm is coming;
* Seeing a possum out in daylight in winter means snow is on the way.
* Check rhododendron leaves to see how tightly they are rolled up in winter, to get a reasonably close idea of the temperature. If the entire leaf is rolled up, it is in the teens or sub teens. If the leaf is rolled up to about the size of a pencil, it is zero. If the leaf changes color taking on a bluish green color, it is below zero.
Observing the signs of nature to predict the weather is nothing new; the Bible tells of it.
When requested by the Saducees and Pharisees for a sign from heaven, Christ told them in Matthew 16:3 that they could predict the weather by a red sky at evening for fair weather, and red clouds and a low sky in the morning for foul weather, but could not discern the signs of the times.
In the Song of Solomon 2, verses 11-12 describes the ending of winter and the beginning of spring: “For lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come.”
Marshall McClung is the historical columnist for The Graham Star. He can be reached via email, mcclungs@email.com.