Nature’s forecast: How frogs, cats, and cows detect weather shifts

2. Birds: the sky’s early warning system

Bird behaviour has inspired numerous proverbs, particularly in farming communities.

• Low-flying swallows? Rain may be imminent, as insects hover closer to the ground in high humidity.
• Sudden silence or erratic flight? Potential sign of an approaching storm.
  Why it happens: Birds are highly sensitive to barometric pressure and wind direction—natural indicators of weather shifts.

3. Cats: the quiet storm sensors

Cats are thought to sense approaching rain or storms, often becoming restless, clingy, or hiding before major weather changes.
Why it happens: Their whiskers can pick up minute air-pressure shifts, and cats are extremely sensitive to static electricity in the environment, which increases before thunderstorms.

4. Cows: predictors of rain through stillness

The old belief that cows lie down before rain actually has some observational basis.
Why it happens: Rising moisture and cooler air pressure often make grass damp, and cows lie down to preserve warm, dry spots. They may also become less active when humidity increases.

AI-image for representational purposes (Photo: Freepik)

5. Ants: the ground-level forecasters

Ants are known to fortify their mounds and appear in larger numbers before rain or storms.
Why it happens: Ants detect drops in barometric pressure and adjust their nests to prevent flooding. Sudden trails of ants indoors can indicate an incoming downpour.

6. Sharks: sensitivity to pressure drops

In oceans, sharks have been observed swimming to deeper waters before major storms or hurricanes.
Why it happens: Sharks possess sensory organs called the ampullae of Lorenzini, which enable them to detect small electrical and pressure changes in water, helping them evade dangerous conditions.

7. Bees: weather-linked foraging

Bees are considered natural indicators of sunshine and rain. When bees remain near the hive or fly low, folklore suggests that rain is approaching.
Why it happens: Bees adjust their foraging based on humidity and their ability to navigate—a task harder during windy or rainy conditions.