Weather

"St Swithun's day if thou dost rain,
For forty days it will remain.
St Swithun's day if thou be fair,
For forty days 'twill rain na mair."

Is the proverb that originated around 1200 years ago and predicts that the weather will remain the same for 40 days after July 15, St Swithun's day.

Martin Crozier from the Guernsey Met Office said that while it is not strictly true it appears to be based on something.

Weather at Vazon on St Swithun's Day 2009

He said: "Seasonal weather patterns get established around this time of year" and so it would not be surprising if the weather remained similar for a period of time from mid July onwards, however it is not as strict as the the proverb claims.

He added that summer 2009 would see "slightly above average temperatures, a fair amount of sunshine, but always the threat of unsettled weather coming along", which was similar to the weather on St Swithun's day.

St Swithun was bishop of Winchester from 852 to 862 and it is thought the proverb came about because this time also saw what was called the Dark Ages Climactic Minimum.

This was a period when the weather was "absolutely rubbish" according to Martin, he added "it was cold and wet and there were crop failures, famine and disease".

Beacuse of this people saw Swithun as being a bad omen, Martin said: "He had the worst weather for 1000 years and the legend grew up around him."

Martin added that other weather proverbs often act like this one and while you "shouldn't hold them at face value" elements of the sayings can apply.

Let us know your weather proverbs below...