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Tuesday, November 22, 2011

This Doesn't Look Good

It has rained since Sunday evening. Now the creeks are looking like this:

This is not good. Chances for rain the rest of today are 100%.


It has been a long time since we've had a real flood in Jackson County. I remember floods in past years that devastated homes, businesses and communities. Seven watershed lakes were built to hold back water that caused these floods and they've done a good job. The only downside is that communities behind the dams now see higher water than in the past because the creeks back up as they enter the lakes created by the dams. Still, it's rare now for anyone's home to be flooded, so a little inconvenience is worth it.

But this rain? If it doesn't let up soon, we're in for trouble, I think.

Home looked good after being soaked as I got in and out of the car in town. I don't mind being wet; I just hope the water doesn't ruin anyone's holiday this week.

I wonder, how is the weather folklore holding up to this deluge?

Around here, I have always heard that rain before 7am ends by 11am. That didn't hold true today, but it seems to be true most of the time.

Also, if it's foggy in the morning it's not supposed to rain that day. Not true today.

Frost in the morning? No rain that day. That one was true because it's unusually warm for this time of year, with a high of 65 degrees expected today.

Red sunrise portends rain but the sun was almost invisible as it came up today.

A cat scratching behind its ears means rain on the way too--Charlie is always scratching her ears, though (and always needs dosing for ear mites) so if we went by her activities it would rain daily.

Do you know any other rain lore? Does it vary from one part of the US, or one part of the world, to another?

Stay dry and warm, wherever you are.

17 comments:

  1. How about, "dew on the grass, no rain will pass." I've always heard that if you find dew in the morning, it won't rain that day.

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  2. My mother always said, "Fog on the hill; water at the mill."

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  3. In Wales they say if you can see the mountains it's going to rain, if you can't see them it's raining already. But it never rains for more than sixty minutes in an hour.

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  4. On a rain cloud kind of a day, if you see enough blue to make a pair of britches, the rain will stop soon and the sky will clear.

    Mostly, I notice the leaves turning up and the smoke lying low and that sort of thing. Sometimes, the birds will show you what the weather will do, especially if the coming storm is going to be a real tater wagon or gully-washer.

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  5. Carolyn,I forgot that one. And it seems to hold true, too. I hope you're not getting this deluge.

    I have never heard that one, Anon. So if the fog is hanging on my ridge, I guess that's a rain sign?

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  6. That's funny, John. Sounds like Seattle. They say kids don't tan there, they rust. Although when I was in Seattle a couple times I did not notice it being extraordinarily rainy. Maybe it was just timing.

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  7. Kate, I notice the same things--cattle gathering under trees, low smoke, temps warmer than usual and high humidity. There are many signs if we're paying attention.

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  8. Rain, rain here in central KY. Supposed to stop tomorrow and a good thing as we are soaked! Have a great Thanksgiving.

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  9. We are flooded in Granny Sue! I had to call and have my husband get home asap because the water rose so fast. He borrowed a truck from work so he could get home.

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  10. Many of those saying are new to me and rather interesting.
    It's been raining cats and dogs all day here and it's still going strong.
    Sure hope it stops soon because we are drenched.

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  11. I remember Mom saying that if the leaves on the trees were upside down or turned over, there would be rain. On the farm, if the cows are laying on their tummies (or hiding their udders), it's going to rain. We've had rain here for about a day and a half, but no flooding, thank goodness.

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  12. It's turned cold and windy today, Farmchick. Maybe that will dry us out! It flooded in some areas but so far I have not heard of major flooding. Keeping my fingers crossed.

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  13. Uh oh, Angela! Has the water gone down any yet? I haven't been back out but after last night's downpours, it must be a sight along the creeks.

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  14. Jessica, is the river up much?

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  15. I could definitely get stuck in the hay field today I think!

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  16. Oh yes you could. Water is still on top of the ground here and it's mushy. The wind today helped a lot. Thank goodness for that.

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  17. I missed this post previously . . . you are wet! We need rain here. Feast or famine, my dad used to say. Another sign of wet weather is that ring around the moon.

    My Great Uncle came to Iowa from Wood Co, WV in the 1930s. He had tried to farm in Wood Co with his young wife and small children but had 7 years of rain (and sleet and ice in the winter) so his brother-in-law, my Grampa, helped him get to Iowa for a new start. 50 years later I got a hold of a Wood Co local Baptist Church record book and it verified those wet years! The church secretary recorded all the times they didn't hold church due to rain and high creeks!

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