Faodaidh atharrachadh na gaoithe a rèir na combaist innse dhuinn mun aimsir a tha romhainn / The direction of the wind can help us predict the weather, according to traditional lore.

Àirde na gaoithe agus ro-innse na h-aimsir

Tha seanfhacal againn Cha do shèid gaoth riamh nach robh an seòl cuideigin ach, ma tha sinn gu bhith onarach, tha a’ mhòr-chuid de sheanfhaclan Gàidhlig a-mach air droch bhuaidh na h-aimsire, seach an caochladh – le deagh adhbhar ann an dùthaich mar Alba! Tha uiread de dhualchas co-cheangailte ri ro-innse na h-aimsir ann an coimhearsnachdan ar cladaichean, ’s gu bheil facal sònraichte againn airson neach a dh’innseas mar a bhios an t-sìde a rèir na chì iad anns an adhar – màirnealach.

Seo feadhainn de na h-abairtean a th’ againn, cuid mhath dhiubh às na h-Eileanan Siar – carson nach tomhais sibh fhèin cho ceart ’s a tha iad? Gaoth an iar an dèidh uisge reamhar – an dèidh uisge trom a bhith ann, gu math tric bidh a’ ghaoth a’ tighinn on àird an iar. Gaoth an iar gun fhras, bidh i ’g iarraidh gu deas – bidh i a’ dol tuathal no an aghaidh gluasad na grèine. A’ ghaoth ag atharrachadh leis a’ ghrèin – nuair a bhios a’ ghaoth ag atharrachadh gu deiseil, ’s e comharra de dh’aimsir a tha a’ fàs nas fheàrr. Calg-dhìreach an aghaidh sin tha A’ ghaoth ag atharrachadh an aghaidh na grèine – a tha na chomharra de dh’aimsir a tha a’ dol am miosad. Tha na dhà mu dheireadh ’s dòcha a’ buntainn ri gluasad deiseil is tuathal na gaoithe ann an co-cheangal ri siostaman bruthadh-àrd is bruthadh-ìosal anns an Leth-chruinne mu Thuath, gnothach a tha aithnichte do dh’eòlaichean aimsir.

’S e a’ ghaoth tuath as motha a chuireas dragh air daoine a tha ri obair no cur-seachadan a-muigh. Ge-tà, chan eil i uile-gu-lèir droch-fhàbharach dhuinn. Bhiodh ar sinnsirean ag ràdh: ’S i a’ ghaoth tuath a sgaoileas ceò  agus Gaoth tuath am beul na h-oidhche, cha robh i riamh buan.

Tha rann againn a bheir comhairle do luchd-siubhail air bàtaichean-aiseig an taoibh an iar (saoil a bheil sgiobairean ChalMac eòlach air?!) Tha e a-mach air na làithean as fheàrr airson a bhith a’ siubhal aig muir, a rèir àirde na combaist agus cho fad ’s a tha a’ ghaoth a’ sèideadh:

A’ chiad latha dhen ghaoith a deas,

An treas latha dhen ghaoith a tuath,

An dàrna latha dhen ghaoith an iar

’S a’ ghaoth an ear gach ial ’s gach uair

Mura h-e seòladair math a th’ annad, agus tu a’ ceannach tiogaid aiseig aig a’ mhionaid mu dheireadh, ’s dòcha gum bi a’ chomhairle sin gu math feumail dhut!

Wind direction and weather forecasts

There is a Gaelic proverb Cha do shèid gaoth riamh nach robh an seòl cuideigin ‘no wind ever blew that did not fill someone’s sails’, but in the pantheon of Gaelic expressions concerning the wind, it is one of a minority that present a positive outlook – most concern the challenges of living in such a windy and changeable climate as Scotland boasts! The tradition of weather-watching and weather-prediction among the maritime community of Gaelic Scotland is so strong that we have a special word for a person with these skills – màirnealach, ‘a pilot who foretells the state of the weather from the appearance of the sky or from a certain arrangement or modification of clouds’.

Here are some of the sayings we have, most of them from the Western Isles – why not test them against your own observations or knowledge! Gaoth an iar an dèidh uisge reamhar ‘west wind after heavy rain’ – after substantial rain, the wind often comes from the west. Gaoth an iar gun fhras, bidh i ’g iarraidh gu deas ‘a west wind without showers will be seeking the south ie backing’. A’ ghaoth ag atharrachadh leis a’ ghrèin ‘the wind veering, or moving in the same direction as the sun’ – a mark of improving weather. The opposite, A’ ghaoth ag atharrachadh an aghaidh na grèine ‘the wind backing, ie moving against the movement of the sun’ can predict deteriorating weather. The last two may be related to the clockwise and anticlockwise movement of wind within a high-pressure and low-pressure system respectively (in the Northern Hemisphere).

The north wind is the least favoured by users of the outdoors, but it is not entirely without merit. Traditional wisdom tells us: ’S i a’ ghaoth tuath a sgaoileas ceò ‘it’s the north wind that dissipates mist’ and Gaoth tuath am beul na h-oidhche, cha robh i riamh buan ‘a north wind at nightfall never lasted long’.

A Gaelic rhyme, which might be of use to modern ferry travellers, concerns the duration of the wind from each major compass point, and how this affects sea conditions. The best (least rough) days to make the journey are as follows:

A’ chiad latha dhen ghaoith a deas,

An treas latha dhen ghaoith a tuath,

An dàrna latha dhen ghaoith an iar

’S a’ ghaoth an ear gach ial ’s gach uair

‘the first day of the south wind, the third day of the north wind, the second day of the west wind, and the east wind at all times.’

If you’re not a good sailor, you might want to consider this advice if making a last-minute booking for a sea-crossing to the islands!

All images ©Lorne Gill/SNH