Weather

If you have an idea what the cloud formations are it could give you an indication of what the weather will be.

Altocumulus

ALTOCUMULUS Height 7,000 - 17,000 feet. Occasionally some slight rain or snow perhaps in the form of a shower may reach the ground. On some occasions a thunder storm may occur.

Stratocumlus

STRATOCUMLUS Height 1,200 - 7,000 feet. May produce light rain or snow.

Cumulus

CUMULUS Height 1,200 - 6000 feet. Well developed cumulus may produce showers.

Altostratus

ALTOSTRATUS Height 8,000 - 17,000 feet. May give light rain or ice pellets.

Stratus

STRATUS Height 1,200 - 7,000 feet. May produce drizzle or snow grains

Cumulonimbus

CUMULONIMBUS Height 1,000 - 5,000 feet. Accompanied by heavy showers, perhaps with hail and thunder.

Cirrocumlus

CIRROCUMULUS Height 17,000 - 35,000 feet. Composed of ice crystals.

Cirrus

CIRRUS Height 17,000 - 35,000 feet. Composed of ice crystals.

Nimbostratus

NIMBOSTRATUS Height 1,500 - 10,000 feet. Accompanied by moderate, or heavy rain or snow, occasionally ice pellets.

Cirrostratus

CIRROSTRATUS Height 17,000 - 35,000 feet. Composed of ice crystals. If cloud is thin either the sun or moon will have an halo around it.

TABLE

LOW CLOUDS

MEDIUM CLOUDS

HIGH CLOUDS

7,000 FEET

7,000 - 17,000 FEET

17,000 - 35,000 FEET

CUMULUS

ALTOCUMULUS

CIRRUS

CUMULONIMBUS

ALTOSTRATUS

CIRROSTRATUS

STRATUS

NIMBOSTRATUS

CIRROCUMULUS

STRATOCUMLUS

HOW TO TELL IF THE WEATHER IS GOING TO GET WORSE

If more cloud is forming, especially at the medium or low levels, or the cloud that is present is getting thicker and blacker.
Clouds that are racing across the sky begin to get fuller and blacker.
Clouds are moving in all directions. This indicates extreme instability.
If it is a hot day and the clouds begin to grow in the early mid-morning, there is a good chance of rain possibly thunder later in the evening.
The cloud begins to drop.

HOW TO TELL IF THE WEATHER WILL GET BETTER

Fog disappears and is replaced by clear skies by mid-morning, or early afternoon.
The cloud base is obviously rising, and possibly holes begin to appear in the covering.
If any of the cirrus style clouds do not change but stay thin and wispy, the it would be a fair assumption that it will stay dry.

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