Pat Shingleton for July 2, 2012.

The bishop of Winchester was a Benedictine monk who died on this date, July 2, 862. As noted in a previous column, upon his death, he requested to be buried outside so the rain would fall on his grave. His request was apparently misconstrued in the village of Winchester and he was entombed inside the cathedral. A drought immediately began. Once re-buried outside, the drought ended and rain returned for 40 days. The English tradition states if it rains on July 15, St. Swithin’s Day, it will rain for 40 days and this seems to apply only to England. “St. Swithin’s Day if thou dost rain, for 40 days it will remain. St. Swithin’s Day if thou be fair, for 40 days ’twill rain nae mair.”

Fastcast: One shower.