Candlemas day saying - 2nd Feb

[damianslaw]

I'm not a firm believer in weather sayings and proverbs, but of all the sayings I do think the following one holds a little truth -

It is Candlemas Day tomorrow and as the saying goes -

If Candlemas Day be fair and bright

Winter will have another fight

If Candlemas Day brings cloud and rain

Winter won't come again

If Candlemas Day be dry and fair

The half o the winter's to come and mair

If Candlemas Day be wet and foul

The half o the winter's gone at yule

The forecast for most of the country is for a fine dry sunny day, so going by the saying we should expect further wintry conditions, and we are firmly at the half way juncture of winter.

I always think the first week of February marks the half way stage of true winter - i.e. mid point between the winter solstice and spring equinox. Cold settled weather is more likely now than during Dec and Jan as the polar vortex is at its strongest then especially in December.

It will be interesting to see whether this saying has held any truth in years gone by.

[Weather-history]

Here is from 2nd February 1995 and Ian McCaskill mentioning Candlemas

[4wd]

It's about halfway through winter so far as feeding livestock is concerned so it was always considered wise to still have 'half your corn and half your hay'

This is still sound advice in most years.

In the north the season when feed will be required stretches from about 1st November to 1st May, in warmer places further south the period will be shorter both ends but the start of Feb is still a sensible halfway point.

[Relativistic]

Well I hope the saying does hold some truth because this morning is bright and beautiful.

[Bobd29]

I'm not a firm believer in weather sayings and proverbs, but of all the sayings I do think the following one holds a little truth -

It is Candlemas Day tomorrow and as the saying goes -

If Candlemas Day be fair and bright

Winter will have another fight

If Candlemas Day brings cloud and rain

Winter won't come again

If Candlemas Day be dry and fair

The half o the winter's to come and mair

If Candlemas Day be wet and foul

The half o the winter's gone at yule

The forecast for most of the country is for a fine dry sunny day, so going by the saying we should expect further wintry conditions, and we are firmly at the half way juncture of winter.

I always think the first week of February marks the half way stage of true winter - i.e. mid point between the winter solstice and spring equinox. Cold settled weather is more likely now than during Dec and Jan as the polar vortex is at its strongest then especially in December.

It will be interesting to see whether this saying has held any truth in years gone by.

Interesting DL, seldom will the saying be so clearly tested than this year. It is unusual for such a large part of the UK to be so clear and chilly; most years the saying would be coloured by regional variation but today the majority is bright and cloudfree....so that's settled then we don't need GFS, ECM, UKMO,GEM, GP, Chio, TEITS, SM , BA, NS etc etc we have our undisputed weatherlore champion here's hoping , LOL

[Terminal Moraine]

Another variation on the Candlemas rhyme is;

If Candlemas be fair and clear there'll be twa ( two ) winters in the year.

This refers to the likelihood of more cold weather in mid to late February and March( rather than in the following December as someone once suggested to me ).

It couldn't be more fair and clear than it is today, so here's hoping.

[AderynCoch]

It's also Groundhog Day in the US.

[4wd]

It may be fair and clear today, but the (slight) justification for the weather lore is that a settled anti-cyclonic period is likely to be cold and persistent.

Whereas rain and wind impliess a mobile westerly.

I would say we are hardly in the first category?

Also the exact day is nonsensical considering calendar changes etc.

All it is saying is mobile stormy weather will likely stick around until the sun is stronger by month end, and a cold spell can no longer last for weeks.

Cold sunny HP nearby will also often be persistent and a snowy spell is to be expected as milder air pushes in.

[Coast]

I love this old stuff where one day sets out the weather for a whole period!!

[dec10snow]

Well it's looking as though it may well hold true this year! interesting!