June 16, 2025, 2:26 pm | Read time: 2 minutes
Farmers’ sayings are familiar to many—often met with a smile, yet they sometimes contain a surprising amount of experience and observation. They are part of the traditional knowledge from rural areas, developed over centuries through careful observation of nature. These sayings offer insights into the course of the summer, the harvest, or upcoming weather conditions. Some prove accurate, while others do not.
For centuries, farmers’ sayings have been a staple of folk culture, reflecting the close connection between agriculture and weather observation. Often passed down in rhyme, they offer insights into how certain weather events were interpreted at specific times of the year. One of these old sayings goes: “A thunderstorm shower in June makes the farmer’s heart glad.” But what exactly is behind this saying? myHOMEBOOK spoke with meteorologist Jörg Riemann from the Wettermanufaktur to find out what this farmers’ saying means for June.
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What’s Behind the Farmers’ Saying for June
Farmers’ sayings shouldn’t always be taken literally, explains Riemann. In this saying, the word “thunderstorm” refers to an above-average amount of rain in June. Another saying with a similar meaning goes: “June with much thunder predicts a gloomy summer.” Both sayings are based on the assumption that if June sees above-average rainfall, July will have below-average sunshine. And that pleases the farmers. It sounds absurd, but it’s quite sensible, the expert explains: “When there’s a lot of sun, you often have the problem of everything drying out. Especially in July, which is also the warmest month of the year.” So if June has above-average rain, in the case of the sayings, thunderstorms, July is expected to come with below-average sunshine.
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Is the Farmers’ Saying True?
Yes, Riemann explains. “After a June with above-average thunderstorms, three out of four years, almost always, a July follows with below-average sunshine duration.”
Does June 2025 Have Above-Average Thunderstorms?
That’s difficult to answer, Riemann explains. Locally, there have already been too many thunderstorms, while other areas are too dry. It balances out, the expert explains. But the trend for summer, as of now, is leaning toward “a summer that’s too warm and has less rainfall. So it’s below average in terms of rain, with local thunderstorms that then lead to flooding again.”
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This week is still quite pleasant, the expert explains. Sun and clouds are equally present, and rain plays only a minor role.
“This applies until the beginning of next week. And only from the middle of next week does precipitation increase again.”