Predicting the weather by looking at the clouds

Weather is a group of atmospheric phenomena, that take place in a specific place and time. This is different from the climate, which permanently determines the phenomena in a given area, that it only applies to a specific moment. Local weather changes are caused by differences in air pressure and temperature. Depending on the terrain, there are winds and precipitation. There are breezes on the shores of the sea – winds changing direction. During the day they blow from the sea to the land, the other way around at night. Some areas, for example, the central areas of the continents, the weather is very stable, others on the contrary – capricious and changeable.

Atmospheric phenomena

Some of the phenomena that determine the state of the weather are purely local. And there are also such, that have a global reach, they affect the weather in places hundreds of kilometers away, for example, powerful hurricanes.

Predicting the weather by looking at the clouds

It is a visible collection of water droplets. The presence of clouds, their kind, the dimensions indicate the movement of air in the atmosphere, pressure distribution, temperature, this allows you to forecast the weather for the next few hours. The higher the cloud ceiling, the prettier and steadier the weather. A sign of nice weather are small ones floating high in the sky, white clouds. Storm clouds, on the other hand, hang low to the ground, they are big and black. Very low clouds, almost touching the ground, they cause fog.

Cumulonimbus

Clumpy and rainy clouds; signify the arrival of rain or hail, strong winds and storms. The dark ones, heavy clouds, piled up like a tower, sometimes they form an extended part called the anvil at the top. Lightning strikes often occur in them – thunder and lightning.

Cumulus

Cushion-shaped cumulus clouds; they indicate nice weather. However, if the cumulus clouds clump into larger clouds and darken, forecast rain. Cumulus clouds spotted over the open ocean may be a sign of approaching land.

Stratocumulus

Cumulus-layered clouds; sometimes they gather above cumulus clouds and spread out in a thick layer. They often rain showers, which cease in the evening.

Cirrus

Circular clouds; have a fiber-like appearance and white, silky shine. They are created at high altitudes, in good weather. There are low temperatures so high in the atmosphere, therefore they are made up of tiny needles of ice.

DESIGN OF THE SURFACE AND THE WEATHER

Rain shadow

Damp winds that lift air masses upwards lose moisture in the form of rain when they hit the ridge.