Though meteorology has been around since the days of Aristotle (who coined the term), much of what we now know about weather systems has only been revealed with the advent of modern equipment such as radar and satellites. Yet we find many statements regarding weather predictions and conditions in words of Chazal written some 2,000 years ago — many of which can be understood only now, as meteorologists continue to uncover secrets of Creation.
The Gemara (Taanis 2a) states that there are three phenomena that do not follow any laws that Hashem set into nature but are contingent entirely upon Hashem’s direct intervention: death childbirth and rainfall.
Because these three phenomena are not subject to specific laws of nature it stands to reason that they cannot be predicted.
Modern science has borne out what this gemara teaches. In general natural events occur based on a set of rules that do not change. In most scientific disciplines scientists can predict the results of almost any process with great certainty. For instance a physicist testing a physical system can predict the results of his efforts as long as he takes into account the various forces that are at play in the system.
An exception to this rule is weather prediction. Weather prediction is so complex and involves so many factors that even the most proficient meteorologists are unable to predict the weather — even for the immediate future — with perfect precision. And they are certainly unable to provide an accurate long-range weather forecast.
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