So, how do you know if you'll need to take an umbrella with you tomorrow? You could listen to the weather forecast, but it’s not always guaranteed to be trustworthy.
You could take a chance, but you might end up getting soaked to the skin. You could phone a friend, but they might just ask you why you’re treating them like a public service. No, what you really want is to know all those handy tips your grandmother’s grandmother used to use whenever she wanted to know if to put the washing out and she didn’t have an app to tell her. Here are some examples.
Let’s think about clouds first of all. Clouds are clouds, but there are different kinds. If you see storm clouds rising, you probably already know it’s an umbrella day - that’s easy. Those clouds are called cumulonimbus. But have you heard of cirrus clouds - those streamer-like ones that are much higher in the sky? Those can tell you to expect a shower in the next day or two.
And how about ‘red sky at night, shepherd’s delight?’ According to that saying, no umbrellas are required the morning after a rosy sunset. However, remember the second half: 'Red sky in the morning, shepherd's warning.' If the sky seems a bit red at sunrise, it could mean you do need your brolly after all.
Now, how about finding out the weather from the behaviour of wildlife? Do frogs seem to be croaking loudly today? Umbrella needed. Spotted your dog eating grass? Then grab your umbrella. But if you’re out in the evening and you see bats circling, you can probably pack your umbrella away and enjoy some dry weather.
If ever you see the cows lying down in a field, you'd better grab a sturdy golfing umbrella, a pair of wellingtons and waterproof coat because a major storm could be brewing.
Some people reckon they can smell rain coming by noticing the scent of flowers more prominent than usual or the smell of the earth hanging in the air. For some people, they can feel it in their needs or hands - an ache that’s reacting to oncoming rain.
In any case, with spring coming, we predict it’s going to rain at some stage in the next month, and so you’d better make sure you’re armed and ready just in case.
Some of our other umbrella-related articles: Promoting your business with branded merchandise 5 Reasons to Choose Branded Blunt Umbrellas
