Predicting the Weather with Clouds

Step 16 That's a lot of information. Now what?

Alright, now that we know what the basic types of clouds are, we need to look up at the sky.

Go outside and look at the sky. If there are no clouds in the the sky, then the weather is fine.

Assuming there are clouds in the sky, we now need to identify them.

First, determine if you can see the sun or moon through them. If you can, then you are looking at high altitude clouds. If the clouds are thick, then there is a chance of poor weather a day or two in the future. To determine when the storm will arrive, observe whether or not the clouds appear to be moving. If they appear stationary, it is a slow moving front and probably won't arrive for over a day. If they appear to be moving, then the change in weather will be there faster. You can tell which way the storm is traveling by the direction the clouds are pointing.

If you can not see through the clouds, chances are that you are looking at middle or low altitude clouds. First, determine which of the two you are dealing with by observing shape, color and other more obvious give-aways. Are they covering the entire sky? Then they may be middle altitude clouds. Do they appear to be grey with a blue tint or fluffy white/grey clouds with a lot of contrast between light and dark? If yes, then these are middle altitude clouds and you should prepare for rain within half a day.

If you answered no to any of those questions, then check for low-altitude clouds. These tend to appear low and often engulf mountains and buildings. If it looks like an elevated fog, expect drizzle (if it isn't already). If it is rows of low, dark, lumpy clouds, then the weather is otherwise okay, but watch for further developments. If there is a low, dark, grey sheet, then it's probably raining. If it's not, quickly go get your umbrella.

If your clouds are low, fluffy, and white like cottonballs in the sky, then the weather is okay. However, keep an eye on these for any vertical growth of the cloud upwards into the sky (turning into anvil shapes). These clouds can unexpectedly change from fair weather indicators into violent thunderstorms.

Comments

[Woodbuffalo]

put together very well, simple and understandable, Thank You. In regards to WIND that is a whole new ball game...there is a morning wind (east to west, generally cooler as the mtns draw from the low lands) From approx 2-3pm there is "dead air" (the hottest part of the day) From 3pm into late evening is the warmer winds (west to east), most times bringing wet weather.

[emartian]

Fantastic 'struct! I especially appreciate the quality of the photos; the three people reading over my shoulder were all nodding silently in agreement. Any idea where we could reliably see lenticular formations?

[vincent7520]

I saw one on the Mont Ventoux (1 000m) not latter than dec. 16.
This is in the South of France.
Just luck I suppose … 

[randofo]

I left them out because they were more of an anomaly or special case.

The wikipedia page seems pretty reasonable though:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lenticular_cloud

[blugyblug]

Woww awesome instructable. IM gonna bookmark this.
what about no clouds? =DD

[flamesami]

winter-freezing
summer-boiling

[drresearch]

Where I live:

winter-hot
summer-boiling

Well, it's not really so hot in winter, but what we define cool, you might define summer. :)

[juanvi]

same for me...only this last year was really cold!!!!
due to global warming, of course

[desertdog]

Excellent and well done.

[fireflyfaster]

What a great instructable! It really puts knowledge of cloud types to practical use. I've bookmarked it to share with my daughter when she's old enough to understand it. Hope it stays awhile, as she is two. ;) I'd love to see some discussion of which of these clouds affect temperature -- which tend to keep hot air trapped underneath for a muggy night, as opposed to which leave the air open to the most extreme variance between highs/lows for the day. Small note -- on step 7, I think you may have said "inclimate" when you meant "inclement."

[lexalpha]

I once saw what looked like a stack of pancakes made of clouds in Canada. The rest of the sky had a few regular fluffy clouds and sunshine. I've never learned what this signified, or even anyone else who has seen such a thing. Have you? Lex

[jquinby]

Those sound like Lenticular clouds. More information on them here:

http://www.cisl.ucar.edu/news/02/fotoweek/0321.clouds.html

[Jthomsonmain]

This is a very nice instructable. Keep up the good work. The only thing you are missing that could be beneficial to this instructable is wind. The presence of wind means a front is moving in. There are two air masses of different pressure, one high, and one low, and the air is being "Sucked" out of the High pressure air mass into the Low pressure air mass. Considering the fact that storm fronts usually move from west to east, you can tell what kind of air mass is moving in by the direction of the wind. If a cold air mass is moving in and pushing a warm air mass out (cold front), it is usually accompanied by thunderstorms and other forms of bad weather. If a warm air mass is moving in and pushing out a cold air mass, it is usually accompanied by rain. I'm not sure how accurate this information is, but its just some info I have picked up over the years and has sufficed for me without learning all of the minor nuances of fronts.

[Rishnai]

Another thing about wind: if you see clouds (especially ones about to go thunderous) to your east, and the prevailing wind in your area usually comes from the west but now you have cold wind coming from the east, that is outflow from those clouds. Look directly in the direction that wind is coming from. That's the one that will probably be the most severe. If you know anyone that general direction, call them and ask them to look at the sky, informing them of what you see. Watch your clouds. If they are building to your south, strong to your east, and you can watch the southern clouds come closer to you, you will soon have a big thunderstorm over your head, even if the outflow tells you that the big 'un is past you, but the hail, lightning, and/or big rain you are about to get will be short-lived. If your cold breeze becomes a warm one, flowing generally towards the clouds, get inside. You are directly under the most dangerous part of the storm, or at least were/soon will be. Turn on the TV or weather radio, preferably in the basement. Pop some popcorn, too.

[randofo]

Yes. This is a very good point you make. Thanks!

[Jthomsonmain]

No prob! Thank you for the Instructable!

[headphoned]

I really liked this. It confirmed a lot of things I had just kinda "figured out for myself" through experience and applying a very basic understanding of weather systems.

I might add that this sort of observation only really works when clouds don't move that quickly. Where I go to uni in the UK, clouds move so quickly overhead that a clear sky is no guarantee that it won't be chucking it down half an hour later. =)

[recycledgrandma]

Thank you. This is a most helpful review. I learned this in grade school in the 50s. Now a days, with radar, no one seems to look at the clouds for weather.