… shepherds warning

red sky at night, shepherds delight.

Googled to find the reason behind this expression.

Apparently, in the UK the prevailing weather comes from the west.

When the sun rises in the east, red light is reflected off the clouds in the west, which means the clouds are approaching so wet weather in on its way.

When the sun sets in the west, red light is reflected off the clouds in the east, which means the clouds have passed so tomorrow will be fine

Makes no sense to me as our best red sunrises are in the east, and sunsets in the west – maybe because we are upside down!!

In fact it sounds to me like our Bluff weather forecast – if you can’t see Bluff Hill it is raining, if you can see Bluff Hill it is going to rain!!

But I digress ……… I did find this is a very old expression and I think this ‘original’ written version is very cool – from a 1395 Wycliff Bible

[i]”The eeuenynge maad, ye seien, It shal be cleer, for the heuene is lijk to reed; and the morwe, To day tempest, for heuen shyneth heuy, or sorwful.”[/i]