What's in the Weather?

Header image courtesy of Maurice Fitzgerald - Far East Photography Tours

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It’s often said that if you don’t like the weather in Newfoundland and Labrador, you just need to wait fifteen minutes. With our sometimes-unpredictable conditions, you may find yourself experiencing all four seasons in a single day. It’s our favourite conversation starter, so it’s no surprise that we have numerous stories, sayings and expressions to talk about all things weather.

Expressions

Some Day on Clothes

Around here, when we’re gifted a sunny day paired with a gentle breeze, you might hear a local say “it’s some day on clothes”. That means it’s the perfect day to hang your freshly washed laundry on the clothesline to dry and let nature do the hard work while you relax.

Mauzy

If we’re known for a type of weather around here, it’s most definitely the fog. Grey, foggy days are more common in late spring and early summer, so that’s when our weather is mauzy. You can expect overcast, fog, cool temperatures and some light rain on a mauzy day.

Flat Cam

Making a living from the water has been tradition for hundreds of years in this province, so a lot of our weather conversation revolves around seafaring. When there’s not enough wind to disturb the water’s surface and it sits perfectly still like a reflective piece of glass, that’s when it’s flat cam (calm). Not a great day for sailing, but surely a great day for rowing. 

Blowin' a Gale

When it's blowin' a gale, it’s quite opposite to flat cam. We’re a windy province, so it’s no trouble to occasionally find yourself visiting a place that’s blowin’ a gale. It’s best to go with the flow, so let your hair down, put on a windbreaker and enjoy the breeze.

Sun is Splitting the Rocks

Think about the hottest day you can imagine; it’s so sunny that it feels like the rocks are going to overheat and quite literally split apart. That’s what we mean when you hear this saying. It’s a perfect day for the beach, the park, or a refreshing beverage on the patio. Get out there and soak up the sun, just don’t forget the sunblock!

RDF

RDF is our favourite weather abbreviation. It stands for rain, drizzle and fog. This is the type of weather you’d expect to find on a mauzy day. It’s a mix of all three different types of weather, sometimes all at the same time. Make sure to pack a raincoat when it calls for RDF.

Want to learn more about Newfoundland and Labrador's colourful expressions? Visit our Language Lessons YouTube Playlist!  

Sayings and Rhymes

Red sky at night, sailor's delight...

Fishers have been looking to the skies for years, acting as the precursor to the modern-day meteorologist. They needed to predict the changing weather patterns to ensure a safe return home from fishing. Abiding by the saying “Red sky at night, sailor’s delight. Red sky at morning, sailors take warning” was a sure way to predict if the morning’s weather was going to be favourable or not.

The saying has scientific grounds, as high-pressure systems scatter the light from the sun to cast red and orange hues in our skies. If it happens at night, a dry and pleasant day is in store tomorrow as the high-pressure system has already passed. If it happens in the morning, it means you’re in for a stormy day which isn’t ideal for fishing.

 When seagulls gather over land, a change of weather is close at hand

Our wildlife is in-tune with nature because they are nature, so it’s never a bad idea to follow their lead. When seagulls seek shelter inland, it’s a good indication that there’s bad weather in store.

Superstition and Belief

Whistling on the Water

Some people like to whistle while they work, but you’d be in big trouble if you carried a tune while fishing off the shores of Newfoundland and Labrador! It was widely believed by fishers that whistling while on the water is a sure way to invite the windy weather near.

Plentiful Dogberries

When dogberries are plentiful and bright in fall, it’s believed to be an indicator of a rough winter to come. Folklore states that mother nature provides more ripe berries for the birds and other animals to get them through a long and arduous winter. So, if you want to know how tough winter is bound to be, you may want to look to the dogberry trees.

Sheila's Brush

The last winter storm of the year is known as Sheila’s Brush. This superstition is rooted in the province’s Irish heritage, and states that a storm is likely to happen after St. Patrick’s Day, where Sheila (sometimes argued to be his wife, sister, mother, or otherwise a stranger) arrives with one last snowstorm to finish the winter season and give spring a fresh start. Often times, fishers wouldn’t put their boats in the water until after Sheila’s Brush. 

If you get out and experience the finest of Newfoundland and Labrador's weather, use #ExploreNL and tag us @newfoundlandlabrador.