Punxsutawney Phil Saw His Shadow. What Says the Dragonfly?

Happy Groundhog Day! 

Today, Feb. 2, Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, predicting that there will be six more weeks of winter.

Being an author of urban fantasy based on Asian folklore, I thought it would be fun to explore Chinese proverbs and folk beliefs to see which animals were traditionally relied upon to forecast the weather.

Many of such proverbs concern rain, which isn’t surprising given the importance of farming in ancient China. Abundant rainfall was the key to survival. 

Would you rely on these old sayings?   

• When dragonflies fly low, that means rains or high winds are on the way.      
• When ants move to a new home or snakes cross the road, it’s a sure bet that heavy rain is coming.
• When spiders repair their webs, that means the rain is ending and the sun will return.        
• The louder the frogs, the heavier the rain.      
• When cats wash their faces, the rain is soon to follow.      
• When pigs gather straw and leaves, a storm is brewing.      
• When cows lick their hooves, rain is imminent.      
• When eels jump in the water, rain or wind is coming.
• When snakes emerge from their holes at the start of summer, it’ll be a hot summer with the potential for floods.
• When swallows build their nests low, it’ll be a dry summer.
• When rabbits are fat in October and November, expect a long, cold winter.