Cold, clear and December's weather lore

Good morning Augusta.

This morning it is clear with an expected High of 28F. Winds less than 5 mph.

Tonight it will be mostly cloudy in the evening, then overcast with a chance of snow. Low of 18F. Winds less than 5 mph. Chance of snow 30%.

The readings from my own weather instruments are:

The humidity is  81% with a Dew Point of 9ºF, Temp is 14.8ºF with a wind chil of 14.8ºF.

Our wind direction is Southwest between 3.1 MPH and  5.7 MPH.  

The Barometric pressure is 30.34 HPA 1026 and rising with a weather graphic indicating sun.

The UV rating is 0 out of 16, Sunrise is at 6:52 a.m. sunset is 4:01 PM and Moon Rise is at 12:09 p.m. EDT and the moon phase is     waxing crescent.

For the pilots out there Raw Metar is:

METAR KAUG 291153Z AUTO 26003KT 10SM CLR M08/M13 A3026 RMK AO2 SLP255 T10831128 11072 21089 53022

Visibility is 10.0 miles / 16.1 kilometers with clear skies.

We had no more snow overnight.

December Weather Lore from the Farmer's Almanac

By: Jaime McCleod

Although weather lore exists for every part of the year, and for nearly every type of weather phenomenon, much of the body of traditional lore surrounds snow. How do you know how much snow we're going to get this year? How long will the snow stay on the ground once it arrives? Does a snowy year mean anything for the coming growing season?

Because of snow's starring role in the lore or yore, many of the old weather sayings that have come down to us through the years are about December, the month when many of us expect to see the first snows of the year, and Christmas, the one day many of us hope to see snow, even if we don't want it on any other day of the year. Here's a look at a small sampling of the weather lore surrounding the month of December in general, and Christmas in particular:

On St. Thomas's Day (December 21) the winter takes its full power.

When Christmas Eve is clear, our Lord will give us an abundance of wine and corn.

White Christmas, green Easter. Green Christmas, white Easter.

If December is rainy, mild and unsettled, the winter will not be harsh.

If December is cold and the earth is covered with snow, next year's rye will be in abundance.

If there's thunder during Christmas week, the winter will be anything but meek.

The nearer the New Moon to Christmas Day, the harder the winter.

If Christmas day be bright and clear, there'll be two winters in the year.

A green Christmas brings a heavy harvest.

A green Christmas makes a fat churchyard.

So many hours of sun on Christmas Day, so many frosts in the month of May.

If the sun shines through an apple tree on Christmas, there will be an abundant crop of apples in the coming year.

If it rains on Christmas, there will be four weeks with no sun.

The wind at the end of Midnight Mass will be the dominant wind in the coming year.

A windy Christmas is a sign of a good year to come.

If there is much wind on Christmas Day, trees will bear much fruit.

If the wind grows stormy before sunset on Christmas, expect sickness in the coming spring and autumn.

If it snows on Christmas night, there will be a good crop of hops next year.

If at Christmas, ice hangs on the willow, then clover may be cut at Easter.

Light Christmas, light wheatsheaf; Dark Christmas, heavy wheatsheaf.

A bright Christmas foretells that hens will lay well.

A dark Christmas foretells that cows will give much milk.

If St. Lucy's day be bright, Christmas day will be dark with snow;

but if the snow falls on St. Lucy, Christmas will be clear and sunny.

If ice will bear a man at Christmas, it will not bear a mouse afterward.

 

Jaime McLeod is a longtime journalist who has written for a wide variety of newspapers, magazines, and websites, including MTV.com. She enjoys the outdoors, growing and eating organic food, and is interested in all aspects of natural wellness.