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See the below Weather by the Moon calendar showing what sort of weather will probably follow the Moon’s entrance into any of its quarters.
The calendar below is derived from “A Table Foretelling the Weather Through All the Lunations of Each Year, or Forever,” which first appeared in The Old Farmer’s Almanac in 1834.
It is the result of many years of actual observation and shows what sort of weather will probably follow the Moon’s entrance into any of its quarters. For example, the day that the Moon enters its first quarter may be stormy.
Note: This table is shared for its historical interest. It was created by Dr. Herschell for the Boston Courier so it may have regional bias. In addition, it was created 175 years ago. It is not meant to be compared with our annual long range weather forecasts for The Old Farmer’s Almanac; we rely far more on our projections of solar activity.
All the same, it raises the question: Does the Moon affect weather? Is this folklore? Or, is there a relationship between weather and the Moon and Moon phases?
To read this chart, you’ll need to reference the year’s Moon phases. See our customized Moon Phase Calendar.
Weather by the Moon
Time of Change
|
Summer
|
Winter
|
| Midnight to 2 a.m. |
Fair |
Hard frost, unless wind is south or west |
| 2 a.m. to 4 a.m |
Cold, with frequent showers |
Snow and stormy |
| 4 a.m. to 6 a.m |
Rain |
Rain |
| 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. |
Wind and rain |
Stormy |
| 8 a.m. to 10 a.m |
Changeable |
Cold rain if wind is west; snow, if east |
| 10 a.m. to noon |
Frequent showers |
Cold with high winds |
| Noon to 2 p.m. |
Very rainy |
Snow or rain |
| 2 p.m. to 4 p.m |
Changeable |
Fair and Mild |
| 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. |
Fair |
Fair |
| 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. |
Fair if wind is northwest; rain if wind is south or southwest |
Fair and frosty if wind is north or northeast; rain or snow if wind is south or southwest |
| 10 p.m. to midnight |
Fair |
Fair and frosty |
Click to expand chart (PDF).
