November Weather Lore Sayings You Might Not Know

The month of November is very much known as a transition month, as fall blends into winter. Leaves have left the trees and nature prepares for cold. Did our ancestors watch for signs this month?

by Farmers' Almanac Staff Updated: November 14, 2022

Weather folklore exists for every part of the year, and for nearly every type of weather phenomenon. The month of November is very much known as a transition month, as fall blends into winter. Leaves have left the trees and nature prepares for cold. Did our ancestors watch for signs in November?

We scoured our folklore archives to find weather lore associated with November and Thanksgiving and here’s what we found. Have you heard any of these?

November Weather Lore

If there be ice in November that will bear a duck, there will be nothing thereafter but sleet and muck.

As November, so the following March.

Thunder in November indicates a fertile year to come.

If we don’t get our Indian summer in October or November, we will get it in winter.

Flowers in bloom late in autumn indicate a bad winter.

November, take flail; Let ships no more sail.

In cold, long winters rabbits are fat in October and November; in mild and pleasant winters they are poor in those months.

Barred owls (or “hoot” owls) calling late into the fall signal a rough winter.

Lore Surrounding November Dates

As St. Catherine (November 25th) foul or fair, so will be the next February.

If St. Martin’s Day (November 11th) is fair, dry, and cold, the cold in winter will not last long.

If the geese on St. Martin’s Day (November 11) stand on ice, they will walk in mud on Christmas.

If the leaves of the trees and grapevines do not fall before St. Martin’s Day (November 11), a cold winter may be expected.

As November 21st, so the winter.

Check out more of our weather lore archives!

April Weather Lore
June Weather Lore
July Weather Lore

Farmers' Almanac Staff

This article was published by the staff at Farmers' Almanac. Do you have a question or an idea for an article? Contact us!

November Weather Lore

Lore Surrounding November Dates

Farmers' Almanac Staff

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