Weather rock

The weather rock or weather stone is a humor display that pokes fun at the intricate technology used in modern weather forecasts, as well as the fact that their accuracy is less than perfect. A rock is typically hung from a tripod and accompanied by a sign indicating how to read it.[1]

Weather stone at the Craven Arms pub and cruck barn, Barden, Craven, North Yorkshire, reputedly more accurate than Paul Hudson, the BBC weather man
Pond at nature reserve in Kinsey Heath, Audlem, Cheshire, with tripod from which a weather rock hangs
Milestone Weather Forecasting Stone, Newtown St Boswells, Scottish Borders

Instructions for "analyzing" weather with the weather stone

Some examples of the instructions commonly provided for "reading" a weather rock include:

  • If the rock is wet, it's raining.
  • If the rock is swinging, the wind is blowing.
  • If the rock casts a shadow, the sun is shining.
  • If the rock does not cast a shadow and is not wet, the sky is cloudy.
  • If the rock is difficult to see, it is foggy.
  • If the rock is white, it is snowing.
  • If the rock is coated with ice, there is a frost.
  • If the ice is thick, it's a heavy frost.
  • If the rock is bouncing, there is an earthquake.
  • If the rock is under water, there is a flood.
  • If the rock is warm, it is sunny.
  • If the rock is missing, there was a tornado.
  • If the rock is wet and swinging violently, there is a hurricane.
  • If the rock can be felt but not seen, it is night time.
  • If the rock has white splats on it, watch out for birds.
  • If there are two rocks, stop drinking, you are drunk.

Weather rocks will also sometimes include rules for proper maintenance of the system such as, "Please do not disturb the weather rock, it is a finely tuned instrument!"

String Variation

In certain circumstances the string may be incorporated into the saying:

  • If the string is on fire then there is a bushfire.
  • If the string is cut a Wendigo has passed by.

Locations

Weather rocks are located all over the world. Some examples include:


  • The weather rock in New Zealand, located in a small town south of Auckland.
  • Camp Wolfeboro, a Boy Scout summer camp in Arnold, California
  • The Donner's Pass Historic Site, near Lake Tahoe, CA
  • On Spangler Road near Highway 213 in Oregon City, Oregon[3]
  • Outside the McDonald's restaurant in Lithgow, NSW, Australia
  • Tenterfield in NSW, Australia
  • Oostdorp, the Netherlands
  • Nature Camp in Vesuvius, Virginia

References
  1. Eric Shackle, Found - World's Oldest Weather Stone, Open Writing, March 26, 2006, retrieved February 11, 2011.
  2. The Weather Rock, Guardlife volume 27 number 2, retrieved September 8, 2011.
  3. , Google Maps Street View
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