Moment of Science: Weather folklore

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - Centuries-old weather folklore is still passed down today, and some sayings hold more scientific weight than others.

“Red sky in morning, sailors take warning; red sky at night, sailor’s delight.” Verdict: mainly true. The saying dates to Biblical times and relies on weather systems generally moving west to east. Dust and water vapor scatter sunlight into vibrant reds and oranges. At sunrise, bright colors can mean high pressure is trapping dust locally with low pressure and a storm approaching from the west. At sunset, the same colors can mean storms to the east moving away, with high pressure building in.

“When sound travels far and wide, a stormy day will betide.” Verdict: toss-up. Sound waves travel faster and farther through humid air than dry air, by a few meters per second. But humidity and warmth alone do not guarantee storms will develop.

Can woolly bear caterpillar stripes predict winter? Verdict: fiction. Folklore says darker means a harsh winter and brighter means mild. In reality, a better growing season produces a bigger caterpillar with less dark color — telling about its past, not the future winter.

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