Weather is a universal topic of conversation—whether it’s to break the ice or decide what to wear. However, its significance extends beyond small talk and the choice between sun or rain. Weather influences everything from food production to societal safety, which is why humanity has endeavored to understand it since time immemorial. Today, we are fortunate to have advanced models, satellites, and supercomputers that help us predict upcoming conditions. Each year, on March 23rd, we observe World Meteorological Day — a reminder of the critical role weather plays in our lives. This day was established to honor the founding of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in 1950—a UN agency pivotal in global cooperation on weather, climate, and water.
For most, checking the weather forecast is a quick task to determine daily attire. For paragliders like myself, it encompasses much more than just sunshine or rain—it’s about safety, daily planning, and interpreting nature’s signals. Weather can mean the difference between an idyllic flight, an abrupt emergency landing, or deciding between a mountain excursion and a café visit. This heightened reliance makes me more invested in meteorology than the average person.
Origins of World Meteorological Day
The day was established in 1961 by the WMO to highlight the importance of meteorology for society. Understanding weather and climate is essential for predicting hurricanes, floods, droughts, and other natural disasters.
World Meteorological Day serves as a reminder of how crucial weather and climate science is to our lives, and how modern technology continues to improve forecasts and emergency preparedness. Each year, the day is given a new theme, often tied to extreme weather, climate change, or sustainable development.
But weather isn’t just about umbrellas and sunglasses—it affects society, the environment, and the economy. Our ability to interpret it has been vital to humanity for thousands of years.
Old Weather Signs – Nature’s Own Meteorologists
Long before satellites, radar, and supercomputers, people relied on nature’s own signals to predict the weather. Many of these signs have proven to be surprisingly reliable even today.
Even the Bible contains references to weather signs. In Matthew 16:2–3, Jesus speaks to the Pharisees and Sadducees about their ability to interpret the weather, but their inability to recognize the signs of the times. He says:
“When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times!”
Today, we still have many old sayings based on the same principles as the biblical weather signs:
- “Red sky at night, sailor’s delight.”
A red sky in the evening often means that a high-pressure system is moving out, and a low-pressure system with moist air is approaching, which can lead to rain the next morning.
- “When the sun sets in a sack, the next day is slack.”
If the sun disappears behind thick clouds at sunset, it’s often a sign that the following day will be overcast.
- “Red sky in the morning, gives an evening of warning.”
A red sunrise signals bad weather ahead, but since weather systems move eastward, the evening may turn out fine once the system has passed.
Animals Often Sense Weather Changes Before Humans Do
- Ants build walls before it rains
Ants are surprisingly accurate weather forecasters. I’ve seen it time and time again during my paragliding trips in Greece: whenever ants start building a little wall around the entrance to their tunnels, rain follows within 24 hours. Once the rain hits, the wall collapses and prevents water from flooding their nest. This instinctive behavior seems to serve as natural protection for the colony—and so far, it’s been a 100% reliable sign of incoming rain.
- Seagulls stay on land when a storm is coming
Birds are extremely sensitive to changes in air pressure. When a storm is on the way, seagulls and other seabirds often move inland to avoid turbulent winds over the ocean.
- Cows lie down before it rains
A classic observation among farmers. When the air gets more humid, the grass becomes damp, and the cows prefer to lie down while the ground is still dry.
- Fish get more active before a storm
Many anglers have noticed that fish tend to jump or feed more eagerly when a low-pressure system is approaching. This is likely due to pressure changes that affect the oxygen levels in the water.
Wind and Air Pressure – Nature’s Warning Signs
- Strong smells in the air? Rain is likely on the way
When humidity rises, scents in the air become more intense. Many people notice that the earth smells stronger just before it starts to rain.
- The calm before the storm
That eerie stillness before a big storm isn’t just a saying—it’s a real phenomenon. Powerful storms are often preceded by a quiet lull, as cold air pushes warm air upward, creating a temporary vacuum and a sense of uneasy calm.
- Is the wind shifting counterclockwise? A change in weather is coming
In Norway, wind patterns tend to follow a rule: high-pressure systems bring clockwise winds, while low-pressure systems bring counterclockwise ones. If the wind starts turning more toward the southwest or east, it usually means a low-pressure front is moving in—often bringing rain and rough weather.
This principle has been known for centuries. In Luke 12:54–56, Jesus says: “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘It’s going to rain,’ and it does. And when the south wind blows, you say, ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and it is.”
Many of the weather signs we still use today have ancient roots—and surprisingly, they still hold up, even in our high-tech world. They’re based on real meteorological principles, observed and passed down through generations. Nature offers early warnings: a shift in the wind, animals behaving differently, or a sky that tells a story. More often than not, these signs are more accurate than we give them credit for—and they can offer insights no app or model always picks up on.
From Folk Wisdom to Supercomputers – The Evolution of Meteorology
Meteorology has come a long way—from a mix of observations and old sayings to a highly developed science. Before we had modern technology, people relied on nature’s signals: red skies, ants building walls, or seagulls staying inland. And surprisingly, many of those signs worked—and still do.
Then came the first measuring instruments. Thermometers made it possible to track temperature. Barometers revealed the secrets of air pressure. And in the 1800s, the telegraph allowed weather observations to be shared across regions in real time. Meteorologists began drawing weather maps, analyzing fronts, and issuing storm warnings—though much of it still involved guesswork.
The real breakthrough came after World War II, when radar and satellites gave us the ability to observe weather systems from above and track storms in real time. In the 1960s, supercomputers took over the heavy lifting of calculations—making forecasts faster and far more accurate.
Today’s weather forecasts rely on complex numerical models—advanced simulations of the atmosphere. These models draw on:
- Data from over 10,000 weather stations, balloons, aircraft, ships, and satellites
- Supercomputers that perform trillions of calculations every second
- Artificial intelligence (AI) to process massive amounts of data and improve forecast accuracy
Still, weather remains chaotic. The butterfly effect means that even tiny changes can lead to major shifts, and long-term forecasts are never completely precise. Maybe quantum computers will one day solve that. But until then, it’s still a good idea to glance at the sky—and the ants—before planning your day.
Fun Fact: Did You Know Norway’s Yr Is World-Famous?
At least in the paragliding world, it is. After talking to pilots from all over the world, I’ve discovered that many of them prefer using Yr because it’s one of the most accurate weather services available.
So yes—Norway might not have the world’s most predictable climate, but at least we have a world-class forecasting tool.
Statistics That (Maybe) Lie – Are We Measuring Things Correctly?
We all agree that climate change is happening, and that global temperatures are rising. The question isn’t if, but how we measure it—and whether we’re using the right data to get an accurate picture.
Because what happens if our measuring methods introduce sources of error that exaggerate the trends?
Airport Thermometers – A Hot Source of Error
Historically, many weather stations have been located at airports. Why? Because airports offer open spaces with few obstructions like buildings and trees.
The problem is that runways and large paved surfaces absorb heat and radiate it back, creating warmer local conditions. A temperature reading taken at an airport is therefore often higher than one taken just a few kilometers away in open terrain.
And yet, these data points are still used to document long-term temperature trends—even though part of the increase may be caused by changes in the surroundings, not the climate itself.
Urban Heat Islands – Cities Are Getting Hotter, but Why?
Cities have grown dramatically over the past 50 to 100 years, and so has the temperature in urban areas. This isn’t only due to climate change, but also what we call the urban heat island effect:
- Asphalt, concrete, and buildings retain more heat than forests and fields
- Traffic, heating, and other human activity raise local temperatures
- Less vegetation means nights don’t cool down as effectively
A good example is Oslo, where one of the main weather stations is located right in the middle of the city. If you compare those measurements with those from surrounding areas, the city is noticeably warmer—not necessarily because the climate has changed dramatically, but because the city has grown around the station.
So when we look at rising temperatures over time, we have to ask ourselves: Are we being consistent in where and how we measure?
If we compare old measurements taken in open landscapes with new ones from paved, urban areas, we introduce a bias that can amplify the apparent warming trend in the data.
This doesn’t mean global warming isn’t happening—we can see it in tree rings, melting glaciers, and shifts in ecosystems. But it does mean we need to be aware of what kind of data we’re basing big conclusions on.
When we hear about record-breaking heat, it’s worth asking: Is this solely due to climate change, or could the measurement location be part of the explanation?
In Conclusion
The future of weather forecasting lies in increasingly sophisticated models, higher-resolution weather maps, faster data processing, and more precise long-range predictions. Quantum computers may one day offer far greater accuracy, and with smarter AI, we might even get personalized forecasts tailored to our exact location—with impressive precision.
But no matter how advanced the technology gets, nature will always have the final say. Meteorologists see the big picture, but those of us who fly need to know what the conditions are like right where we are, right now, and in the near future.
We often navigate based on micro-meteorology—the small but crucial weather changes that can mean the difference between a perfect flight and an unexpected emergency landing.
Like most paragliding pilots, I’m probably a bit more weather-obsessed than average—and that has led to some interesting moments. Like the time I managed to impress a professional meteorologist by sharing my insight into the subtle but critical weather patterns that pilots rely on to stay safe.
It was a reminder that even with all the world’s technology, experience-based knowledge still matters.
So maybe it’s still worth doing more than just checking an app. Take a moment to look at the sky, feel the wind—and see what the ants are up to.
