the wind shortly blows from S.E. If the tide is ebbing the wind will blow from north-west, with rain (Nairn).
V.—The Aurora Borealis.
The Aurora Borealis is called Dancers, Merry Dancers, Northern Lichts—i.e., Lights and Streamers.
If the Aurora appears during spring, some fishermen (Macduff) observe that soon after the wind blows "into it", that is, from the opposite quarter. When it appears in autumn the wind blows from the quarter in which it makes its appearance.[1]
The Aurora is the forerunner of southerly winds (Rosehearty).
If it remains pretty low on the northern horizon, it indicates no change of weather, but, in the opinion of some, with the wind from the north. If it rises high, and passes "the line", i.e., the zenith (Pittulie), or "the crap o' the air", towards the south-west, stormy weather follows (Pittulie, St. Comb's), with wind from the south according to some.
If the sky is dark below the Aurora, some fishermen assert that southerly winds are at hand.
VI.—Lightning.
Lightning at night without thunder is commonly called "fire flaucht", and is looked upon as the precursor of windy weather (general), "flauchty weather" (Pittulie). About the month of September it indicates a westerly breeze, and within no long time after its appearance. Thus if it appears early in the evening the breeze springs up by morning."[2]
VII.—Thunder.
Thunder in the forenoon is said to be followed by a breeze from the noith or north-east. Thunder in the afternoon is followed by fine warm weather (Rosehearty).
