Candlemas Day 2 February weather sayings

[damianslaw]

Ah this is an annual thread of mine, and every year it comes round I think where has that year gone..

Its Candlemas Day on Sunday, the mid point between the winter solstice and the Spring equinox. 

There are many weather sayings relating to the day.

'If Candlemas Day brings cloud and rain winter won't come again'

'If Candlemas Day be bright and fair, the half o winter's to come and mair', or 'will have another fight'.

These sayings fall into 2 camps a wet dull 2 Feb means more dull wet mild weather rest of winter, conversely a bright dry one means more cold.

I feel there are some elements of truth in these sayings. Wet and cloud tends to be associated with the atlantic this time of year, and can be entrenched with strong PV and westerlies, whereas dry and bright usually means anticyclonic weather which can mean blocked set ups, the highs fending off the atlantic.

What does this year have in store a bit of a mix, rest of winter a battle between atlantic and high pressure.. ?

Any reflections on these sayings. In the north we are still firmly in peak mid winter weatherwise with many potential cold weeks ahead... 

Edited January 31 by damianslaw

[WYorksWeather]

 damianslaw I definitely think for some areas winter can be considered to continue in some years into March, though this was probably more true in the past than it has been more recently. In fact in many recent years it feels like winter is over by the 1st February!

[damianslaw]

 WYorksWeather Not this year I feel though.. overdue some proper winter weather in Feb especially second half.. 2018 keeps coming back to me...

[WYorksWeather]

 damianslaw I'm still a bit unsure - it's always the detail with these patterns that can hold it back! Still you may be right - whilst cold months are rarer than they were, we'll definitely get another notably cold February at some point.

[Snowologist]

This weather folklore regarding Candlemass is one I had not heard before.

I agree it does make some sense. I love the idea that past generations who had a greater need to understand the weather over the coming season looked to identify patterns. 
It could be said that these weather folklores are as accurate as the seasonal forecasts!!