The observation of signs from nature for weather prediction is a very common practice among the country people (sertanejos) from the Brazilian Northeast. Those who distinguished themselves on the development of this practice, commonly known as 'winter experiences', are called 'rain prophets'. In a region called Seridó, in the State of Rio Grande do Norte, like other places of the Northeast, these prognostics have so much relevance that they are even reported on local radios, whether or not they converge with the predictions from official institutions. This article identifies, through the discourse of the 'rain prophets' from Seridó, the factors that stimulate them to perform these experiments. It was observed that this ability fulfills an important social, practical and symbolic function in an environment known for its social and climatic adversities. To be able to anticipate the organization of the productive activities, facing the possibilities of drought, is one of the main factors that influences the reproduction of 'winter experiences', even though that is not the only reason. The desire to reproduce the sertanejo's culture, to mark an identity, maintain a specific relationship with nature and help others, as well as the rivalry and/or non-acceptance of forecasts from meteorologists also were important elements for the continuity of 'winter experiences' by the prophets.
Sertanejo; Weather prediction; Popular meteorology; Semiarid climate
