The vast majority of us rely on meteorologists to provide us with an idea of what the weather will be like for the next week. Usually, they are extremely accurate a day or two in advance. On average the industry is known to be accurate on average 2 to 4 days in advance. We decided to do some research to find out if there are any ways to predict the weather yourself without having to rely on the weather forecast. 

To our surprise, we found a lot and here are a few examples of what we think that everyone should be aware of:

Observe the habits of birds

Birds ears are exceptionally sensitive to changes in air pressure before a storm air pressure drops. This change in pressure causes flocks of birds to fly lower to the ground and perch on power lines and low branches. If you observe birds foraging for ground insects, this can also be an indication of a drop in air pressure and could suggest a storm is on the way. Conversely, if you observe flocks of birds flying high, this is routinely a firm indication of decent weather ahead. If you are closer to the coast watching the behavior of seagulls is an excellent indicator of approaching weather patterns

Some devices are fun and actually work

Most people are probably familiar with barometers, thermometers and to a lesser extent anemometer as devices used to predict the weather. I’ll bet you have never heard of a storm glass. But this compact device can predict weather up to three days in advance. Learning how a storm glass works is pretty simple, a little bit of research and you will be good to go. You can enjoy many years predicting weather patterns, and as you become more familiar with the process, an unexpected weather pattern will never catch by surprise again.

Observe cloud formations

Clouds can act as predictors of weather by the size, color and direction in which they are moving. Murky clouds are frequently water-laden and if they are heading in your direction, there is a chance that rain or snow is approaching depending on the temperature. Cloud cover itself can indicate the temperature of an evening or night. If you observe heavier cloud cover on a winter evening, you can expect balmier weather. Clouds help prevent heat radiation and this keeps temperatures higher.

Check out the color of the sky

If you observe a red sky in the morning, this can indicate good weather to the east and poor weather to the west. As weather travels from west to east, this red sky in the morning shows the weather to the east is clear, causing the red color in the sky. The bad news is the inclement weather from the west is moving in your direction.

Study weather patterns

People who work or spend a lot of time in the outdoors, fishermen and farmers are experts at predicting weather based on certain patterns. This is a skill that comes from experience, but it is one that anyone can grasp. Take note of specific patterns in your location, and you will find over time that the weather is cyclical and more predictable.

Smell the air

This may seem a bit far-fetched to some people. But if you close your eyes and learn to exercise your senses, such as smell, these can help predict the weather. For example, flowers smell better just before it starts to rain. The simple fact of the matter is that scents travel further and smell stronger in moist air.

Which direction is the wind blowing?

A westerly wind will typically indicate that good weather is coming as the bad weather has already passed you. A wind from the east indicates a bad weather front moving in your direction. Observing the trees or longer grasses will allow you to see the direction the wind is blowing, Throwing some petals or grass in the air will help show the wind’s direction. Others simply wet their finger and hold it up, the side of the finger that gets cooler indicates the direction the wind is blowing.

Keep an eye on the Tortoises

I had to keep one of my personal favorites to last. Tortoises aren’t fans of adverse weather, so they will regularly be seen migrating to higher ground before a storm. They can be seen striking out for higher ground a day or two before it starts to rain.

Do I need to get the snow boots out? I wonder if it will rain tomorrow? Should I bring an umbrella? In short, being able to accurately predict the weather will play an important role in your everyday life as it enables you to prepare beforehand for any harsh weather you are about to experience.