Weather Forecasting

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A map of high- and low- pressure areas is useful in weather forecasting. Air circulates away from higher-pressure areas in a clockwise direction. Air moving into a low pressure area circulates in a counterclockwise direction.
A map of high- and low- pressure areas is useful in weather forecasting. Air circulates away from higher-pressure areas in a clockwise direction. Air moving into a low pressure area circulates in a counterclockwise direction.
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Cumulonimbus: Towering, angry-looking, billowing cloud varying from white to dark gray. Weather: The severe weather cloud, which may bring high winds and thunderstorms.
Cumulonimbus: Towering, angry-looking, billowing cloud varying from white to dark gray. Weather: The severe weather cloud, which may bring high winds and thunderstorms.
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Cumulus congestus: Cumulus starting at low altitude, turning gray, billowing, and beginning to develop vertically. Weather: May produce precipitation immediately.
Cumulus congestus: Cumulus starting at low altitude, turning gray, billowing, and beginning to develop vertically. Weather: May produce precipitation immediately.
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Cumulus: Separated, fluffy, white clouds. Weather: Fair weather unless developing into other cumulus.
Cumulus: Separated, fluffy, white clouds. Weather: Fair weather unless developing into other cumulus.
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Cirrocumulus: High, white layer of puffy or rippled clouds. Weather: Precipitation in 15 to 20 hours if wind is from between northeast and south.
Cirrocumulus: High, white layer of puffy or rippled clouds. Weather: Precipitation in 15 to 20 hours if wind is from between northeast and south.
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Stratus: Usually lighter gray, low-level, flat layers. Weather: Heavy precipitation if wind is from between northeast and south.
Stratus: Usually lighter gray, low-level, flat layers. Weather: Heavy precipitation if wind is from between northeast and south.
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Cirrostratus: High, transparent, white clouds that put a halo around the moon. Weather: Precipitation in 15 to 20 hours if wind is from northeast.
Cirrostratus: High, transparent, white clouds that put a halo around the moon. Weather: Precipitation in 15 to 20 hours if wind is from northeast.
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Nimbostratus: Light to dark gray monotonal, low-level cloud layers that obscure the sun. Weather: Precipitation of long duration if wind is from between northeast and south.
Nimbostratus: Light to dark gray monotonal, low-level cloud layers that obscure the sun. Weather: Precipitation of long duration if wind is from between northeast and south.
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Cirrus: High, lacy, white ice cloud; often hairy appearance. Weather: Fair if lower-level wind is from west.
Cirrus: High, lacy, white ice cloud; often hairy appearance. Weather: Fair if lower-level wind is from west.
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Stratocumulus: Light-to dark gray, variable tone, low-level layers. Weather: Precipitation soon.
Stratocumulus: Light-to dark gray, variable tone, low-level layers. Weather: Precipitation soon.
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Altostratus: Medium-height layer of gray, translucent clouds. Weather: Precipitation in 10 to 15 hours if wind is steady from between northeast and south; overcast for other winds.
Altostratus: Medium-height layer of gray, translucent clouds. Weather: Precipitation in 10 to 15 hours if wind is steady from between northeast and south; overcast for other winds.
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Altocumulus: Medium-height, white to light-gray layers. Weather: Precipitation in 10 to 15 hours if wind is steady from between northeast and south.
Altocumulus: Medium-height, white to light-gray layers. Weather: Precipitation in 10 to 15 hours if wind is steady from between northeast and south.

When you walk in the woods or open country, where do your eyes play? If you’re like me, you easily get wrapped up in plodding–figuring out where the next footfall will be–instead of observing. No wonder the weather catches us by surprise; we’re just not paying attention. The sky, the greenery, the ground and their inhabitants provide a constant flow of clues about what the atmosphere holds in store. All we need to tap this 24-hour weather report is a sharp set of senses. Just look, listen, feel, and yes, even sniff.

For example, have you ever noticed that the odor of rotting wood (maybe mixed with the scent of mint) seems more pungent some days than others? There’s a perfectly good explanation: When atmospheric pressure is high, odors are subdued–held in; when it drops, they waft into the air.

Weather forecasting without the meteorologist’s arsenal of instrumentation is mostly a matter of charting changes. A onetime viewing of clouds, for instance, isn’t nearly as sure as a comparison of the current situation with the type of clouds present a few hours, even a few days, ago. In fact, any single predictor mentioned in this article is of little value. Weather has defied such simplification for eons. So look for evidence from every source available, and hazard a guess only when the majority of the symptoms point to the same prognosis.

Regional Weather

Lay weather forecasters who’ve lived in an area for many years often become quite proficient, because they’ve learned from experience what a particular condition tells about the future weather. Even if you’ve lived in one place for only a year or two, you probably know from what direction the wind usually blows.

  • Published on Aug 1, 1991
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