Tips on Weather-prediction

Author: Holger

Category: Safety & navigation

Published on Sunday, 25 July 2010 22:17

Written by Holger

Predicting the weather is an ancient art. Through the millennia, humans have uncovered clues, by observing closely their environments, which would allow them to forecast the weather. Today, in our times of weather satellite, internet and the 6 o'clock news, weather prediction has become somewhat of a dying art amongst most townies. So here are a couple of tips that could come in handy for kayakers, fishermen and campers. Remember though, they are hints, and are not intended to replace a proper weather / swell forecast before a trip.

• Rising barometric pressure indicates good weather, while falling pressure indicates a change in weather. Rapidly falling pressure indicates a storm is imminent.
• If smoke rises straight up, the weather is likely to remain fine. If it starts swirling, or is beaten down after rising a short way a shower or storm is coming.
• If Swallows (or other insect eating birds) fly very low, it is likely the weather is changing to the worse. If they fly high, the weather will stay fine.
• Red sky in the morning and it will rain soon, while a clear & red sky in the evening indicates that  the weather will stay stable. 
• (Morning red- weather dead! Evening red- good morning bread.)
• A rainbow in the morning and it is likely to rain soon, a rainbow in the afternoon and there is a good chance it will clear up.
• A corona, a a coloured circle around the sun or moon, will enlarge if fair weather lies ahead, and shrink if it is likely to rain.
• A grey morning heralds a dry day, but a grey evening sky means that it will rain soon.
• If the stars at night a clearly visible the weather is likely to remain stable. If they flicker or get less and less visible rain is likely.
• If the sky is really dark blue and visibility very good, a change in weather is not unlikely. 
• If the sky is medium blue the weather will remain fine.
• If the sky changes to grey or white (especially in combination with  low visibility), and the weather will change.
• If a condensation trail of an aeroplane disappears quickly the weather will stay nice, if they don't disappear, but stay, widen or compress the weather will change. 

Ah, yes- big black cloud towers, maybe with some green or copper colours interlaced through it, as well as lightning and thunder indicate a imminent storm. Definitely time to go home now! But let me guess, you picked that one.

Have fun and stay dry!

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