Weather phenomena have been predicted in all eras
Today, weather in Vitebsk is announced regularly through all media. But several centuries ago, one had to listen to the surrounding atmosphere.
Thus, to determine the character of winter, they observed moles. If they dug burrows with entrances on the north side, then a warm winter was expected. If the entrance was on the south, winter promised to be cold. The west was associated with dry frosts, and the east with slush. They also looked at cherry trees. After all, until their leaves fell, fallen snow could not become permanent and mark the beginning of winter.
To determine the weather for the upcoming spring, they paid attention to birds. If rooks arrived before mid-March, one could hope for a quick snowmelt. If geese flew high in the sky, the flood promised to be rapid. When geese flew low over the ground, they expected low water in spring.
To find out what summer would be like, they looked at trees. It was believed that an ash tree that turned green earlier than an oak indicated a dry and warm summer, while an oak that leafed out earlier than an ash promised a cool and rainy summer. They also looked at birch and alder. If the first unfolded its leaves before the second, a dry summer was expected; if the second was earlier, a cold and incredibly wet summer. The conclusions when leaves unfolded simultaneously are not mentioned.
Weather in Grodno for autumn was also determined by birds and trees. If cranes flew, autumn bad weather was not far off. If they flew high, autumn would be warm and without slush. Rich rowan clusters said the same. But the bullfinch's whistle could spoil all idyllic ideas about autumn suitable for both work and rest. After all, it was traditionally associated with the beginning of winter.
Thus, weather phenomena have been predicted in all eras. But methods varied in each era. Moreover, even today many continue to judge, for example, the amount of precipitation in summer by the volume of winter snows. After all, weather is a set of natural phenomena, so one always immediately leads to another.
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