When the sun appears to draw up water, it is a sign of approaching wind and poor weather.

Sun 'Drawing Up Water' Predicts Bad Weather

Details

This weather-related superstition is based on a visual natural phenomenon: when rays from the morning sun reflect off moisture or haze on water surfaces, it can appear as though the sun is ‘drawing up’ water. Folk belief held that this spectacle forecasted windy and unpleasant weather. Often observed by sailors, farmers, and fishermen, it helped communities decide when to avoid travel or delay agricultural tasks. The phrase ‘the sun drawing up water’ could refer to either visible vapor rising into the air or a shimmering optical effect on bodies of water. While not scientifically rigorous, this interpretation was rooted in generations of weather pattern observation and oral tradition.

Historical Context

This superstition arises from maritime and agricultural traditions where weather played a critical role in livelihood. In 19th-century Britain and America, weather lore commonly linked atmospheric signs to forecasts. The idea of the sun ‘drawing up water’ likely stems from real phenomena such as increased humidity, visible evaporation, or sun rays interacting with water surfaces early in the day. This was interpreted by weather-wise laypeople, particularly in rural and coastal communities, as a precursor to storm systems. The belief reflects a time when empirical observation substituted for meteorological science, and collective memory preserved such cues as informal forecasting tools.

Modern Relevance

In contemporary times, this superstition is seldom practiced intentionally, but versions of it persist in rural communities and among older generations. Some fishermen and traditional farmers may still refer to such signs during casual weather discussions. The superstition occasionally appears in nostalgic commentary, folklorist collections, or educational materials about historical weather prediction. On social media, natural photography sometimes captures similar solar effects, which are explained scientifically rather than superstitiously. While technology has replaced folk forecasting, this belief remains part of cultural heritage and regional language in parts of the UK, Ireland, and the eastern U.S.

Sources

Brewster, William. Weather Proverbs: A Study in Folk Meteorology. 1890.

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