Got Your Head In The Clouds...?

That might be a good place for it!

You know, something as simple as knowing how the weather is depicted in the clouds above us can make you seem like an expert...especially to the kids!

It also can save you a lot of grief as far as getting caught out in unexpected bad weather. There are a lot of old wives tales, animal signs, suggestions from the old timers, even reactions of certain plants that can give you a hint of what's in store, weather-wise. Reading the cloud formations is just one of them.

Who knows? Maybe this little bit of information can someday help in an emergency situation...you just never know!

The higher the clouds, the finer the weather. If you spot wispy, thin clouds up where jet airplanes fly, expect a spell of pleasant weather.

When clouds appear like towers, the Earth is refreshed by frequent showers. When you spy large, cauliflower-like clouds that look like castles in the sky, there is probably lots of "dynamic" weather going on inside. Innocent clouds look like billowy cotton, with no "towers".

Smorgasbord of clouds? Expect rain or snow. If you have what amounts to a hodgepodge of all different types of clouds before you, weather is arriving from all different directions. That chaotic sky usually signals rain or snow.

Ring around the moon? Rain real soon. A ring around the moon usually indicates an advancing warm front, which means precipitation. Under those conditions, high, thin clouds get lower and thicker as they pass over the moon. Ice crystals are reflected by the moon's light, causing a halo to appear.

Rain foretold, long last. Short notice, soon will pass. If you find yourself toting an umbrella around for days "just in case," rain will stick around for several hours when it finally comes. The gray overcast dominating the horizon means a large area is affected. Conversely, if you get caught in a surprise shower, it's likely to be short-lived.

Once again, I have to thank the Farmer's Almanac for this information A very handy book to have on hand, if you want to know! Heck, you can even read it on line! Just follow the link above and explore the wealth of information available.

That's it for me for today! I just wanted to share this little bit of information with you, just in case. See, I'm always looking out for you! That's just the kind of guy I am...

Now, my friends, let's get some coffee and sit outside for a bit! We can study the clouds and discuss what the weather is going to do!