Weather lore is the informal folklore related to the condition and forecasting of the weather. For thousands of years our Ancestors relied on the following wisdom. Even today our attention to the weather patterns can swiftly become an invaluable asset creating a circuit between us and the law of nature. The following tips are easy to learn and is a necessary tool for anyone spending extensive time outdoors.
Clouds are the most reliable active message of weather forecasting. There are ten main types of cloud formation and a basic rule is `the higher the clouds the finer the weather will be.
Cirrocumulus
They look like rippled sand, an omen of fair weather, sometimes they appear after a storm and dissipate to leave a clear blue sky.
altitude: 5 - 8 km, (3 - 5 miles)
Altostratus
Fair weather clouds, on a larger scale than cirrocumulus,
a bit thicker and not so white with slight shadows in them, they often appear after a storm and drift around
altitude: 1.5 - 6 km (1 - 4 miles).
Cumulonimbus
Low forming thunder clouds, often growing and transforming in size fast.
Quite often these towering clouds can look rather Dark and Menacing with the top flattening into an anvil shape. These clouds are the bringers of thunder and lightning, hail and strong wind. False cirrus often appears above them and false nimbostratus below. Altitude:
Can form at 1.5km and rise to a staggering height of 10 km (1-8m)
Cumulus
Easily recognisable fluffy white clouds with flat bottoms, usually indicate fair weather when widely separated, but if they appear quite large they are capable of producing sudden heavy showers. When seen at see in an otherwise cloudless sky, they often indicate land beneath.
altitude: 2.5km or less. (2 miles or less)
Cirrus
High wispy clouds formed from ice crystals which gives them the white appearance, an indicator of fine weather.
altitude: 5 - 9 km (3 - 5.5 miles)
Cirrostratus
Made up of I've particles and look a bit like white veins. These clouds can also produce a halo around the sun or moon.
altitude: above 6km (4.5 miles)
Altostratus
These clouds form a greyish veil over the sun or moon. if wet weather is approaching the cloud will darken and thicken obscuring the sun or moon until it begins to rain.
altitude: 2.5 - 6 km
(1.6 - 3.7 miles)
Nimbostratus
These clouds form low dark blankets, they signal rain or snow within 4 - 5 hours, rain or snow usually lasts several hours.
altitude: 1.5 - 5 km (1 - 3 miles)
Stratocumulus
These clouds form a low lumpy rolling mass, usually covering the whole sky, though often thin enough for the sun to filter through, light showers may precipitate from them, but these clouds usually dissipate in the afternoon, leaving a clear night sky. Altitude: 2.5 km or less (1.6 mile or less)
Stratus
These are the lowest of all clouds and form a uniform layer like high fog, they are often described as hill fog, They arnt such a normal rain cloud but they can produce drizzle, when they form quickly overnight and cover the morning its often an indicator of a fine day preceding.
Altitude: Less than 2.5km (1.6 miles)
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Animals and birds can also give us some clues on the weather, although probably not as reliable as the clouds, they still offer us good indication to what the weather will be;
Theres a whole list of other weather lore sayings and proverbs which may not be guarantee accuracy but they certainly can be useful.
Do it yourself weather forecasting opens up a whole new natural perspective to life outdoors.