The last calendar month of winter is coming. They used to say that ” February has two friends: a snowstorm and a Blizzard.” Winter seems to be resisting the inevitable approach of spring, trying to resist changes, which is why the February weather is so changeable — “it will caress you with warmth, then it will blow you with frost”. If, contrary to usual, the month turned out to be clear and fine-wait for a drought in the summer.
In early February, it is usually cold, snowfalls are frequent, but thawing and melting of snow at this time was considered a bad omen, foreshadowing a bad harvest. A frosty month promises a good summer, but if the whole of February is warm — it will bring a cold spring. Everything in nature has its place and time: “February is strong with a snowstorm, and March-with a drop.”
But it is “in February, winter and spring will meet for the first time”. This will happen on February 15. The day has noticeably arrived, the frosts have eased, and the sun is already warming almost in spring — where the snow will flood, where icicles will hang from the roofs: “February breaks the winter, lets the water in, adds three hours to the day.”
The February forecasts…
Signs of February most often speak about the weather. What to expect-frost or thaw? A Blizzard will sweep the road or the sun will melt the snow? You must agree that these are important issues for us now. So why not listen to the experience of our ancestors, look at natural phenomena, the behavior of animals and birds, the stars in the sky, the trees in the forest… let’s Try it?
… on snow and frost
These phenomena are not difficult to observe in the city, and the signs are correct!
- If the snow sticks to the trees, to the wires-soon there will be warming.
- Snow began to fall in large flakes-wait for a thaw.
- If the trees are covered with frost-to frost; if frost appeared at night-the day will be cold.
- If it snows on a frosty day, it will thaw.
And if there is a lot of frost on the trees in February, there will be a lot of honey. Beekeepers, be alert!
… by the stars and heavenly bodies
Stars, of course, are better seen outside the city — in the country, for example. But it’s easy to spot the sun and moon everywhere. And if it turns out, and the starry sky will certainly admire — not even for the sake of the forecast, just like that…
- Frequent stars in the sky — to heat and snowfall, rare-to bad weather.
- If the stars twinkle-be Blizzard and frost; crimson stars – to the Blizzard.
- A large moon with a reddish tinge foretells a thaw, a bright and clear moon is before frosts.
- Purple sunset-to heavy snowfall.
… on animals and birds
Cats and dogs, sparrows and crows — they live near us, but we often do not notice what they can tell us. And they seem to know a lot more about natural phenomena than you and I do…
- The cat lies with its belly up — a thaw will come, and if it covers its muzzle with a paw in a dream, it will be frosty.
- If the cat jumps on the windowsill and looks out the window-it will soon warm up, if the floor is scratching-be a strong wind and a Blizzard.
- Sparrows hide in brushwood – to a snowstorm or cold snap, and if they tweet together — to a thaw.
- Hens are very much crowing – to snowfall; if they sit down early on the roost-wait for a cold snap, and the higher they climb, the stronger the frost will be.
- If the birds started shedding in February, spring will come early.
- Mice-voles got out of their holes and run through the snow – to cloudy weather.
- Crows settle on the tops of trees and brush their feathers-for snowfall.
… on various events and natural phenomena
It is clear that the stove is more of a curiosity these days, and not everyone has hay in their yard. But the signs are interesting-remember just in case, suddenly useful. And if you can observe-be sure to tell us in the comments about your impressions: is this really the case, did not the popular rumor fail?
- The wind in the chimney is humming — it will be cold.
- The hay was damp for the snowfall.
- If the forest is noisy in windless weather – to a snowstorm, and if after the wind it seems to be quiet — to frost.
- Trees in the forest crackle-to prolonged frosts.
- If the forest seems to have turned black, become darker — there will be a thaw, and turned gray-frosts will come.
- Water in the well arrives – to warming.
- If the water in the hole rose to the edge, but did not come out on the ice-wait for frosts.
- The steam that creeps over the frozen river promises cold.
- A lot of long icicles on the roofs in late February-to the long spring.
- The colder the last week of February, the warmer March.
What’s the weather like now? What makes you happy in February?