Predicting Weather & Temperature

Cloud Type


Stratus & Stratocumulus

Forms of Precipitation

Drizzle, freezing drizzle,
snow grains
snow or rain
(continuous or intermittent).

Thick Altostratus & Nimbostrattus

Snow showers,

rain showers.

Thick Altostratus & Stratocumulus

Snow pellets or hail,

showers of ice pellets.

Altocumulus, Heavy Cumulus, Cumulonimbus

Hail

Any cloud that will give rain (non-showery precipitation in the form of hail is usually the result of the rain drops freezing) No cloud necessary.

Ice prisms deposits at night
on cold surfaces.

Wind Direction and Strength

Indications of strong winds seen at a distance may be:

-Plumes of blowing snow from the crests of ridges and peaks or ragged shreds of cloudmoving rapidly.

-Persistent lens-shaped clouds, or a band of clouds, over high peaks and ridges or downwind from them.

-A turbulent and ragged banner cloud which hangs to the lee side (sheltered side) of a peek.

Pioneer Weather Indicators (Animal Behavior)

-cows lying in field indicates rain
-bees staying near their hive indicates rain
-geese fly low before the arrival of bad weather
-fish bite better before a rainfall
-campfire smoke stays near the ground before a storm and rises upon improving weather
-birds and bats fly at a lower level as the insects they eat stay closer to the ground before bad weather
-spiders spin long webs on hot dry days but when wet weather is coming, the webs will be short or none at all.