Tips for predicting the weather include using a barometer, observing clouds, looking at visibility, checking for dew, and even considering smells. A rising barometer means clear weather, while dark cumulonimbus clouds indicate storms. Haze at night means clear weather, and no dew could indicate a change in weather. Smells from swamps and flowers can also be indicators.
Being able to predict the weather often requires specialized tools and formal training in meteorology. For those backyard forecasters who don’t want to depend on what someone else says or don’t have access to the weatherman, however, there are some handy weather forecasting tips. While these tips aren’t always accurate predictors, they can definitely help more often than not. You can use a barometer, observe the sky and clouds, and even consider the smells of various parts of nature.
For those who can get one, a barometer can be a very useful tool. Looking closely at the barometer over a period of hours should be an accurate way to predict the weather. A barometer reading that is steadily rising should mean clear weather. A steadily dropping barometer should mean stormy weather. The barometer usually hovers around 30. Anything below this could indicate severe weather. Above 30 it is usually good weather.
Cloud observation is another good way to predict the weather. Dark, solid clouds, known as cumulonimbus clouds, are usually an indication of severe weather conditions, including storms with lots of rain and wind. If dark areas are broken up by lighter or brighter colors, known as mammatus clouds, this could indicate that the storm is breaking up. Cirrus clouds, which are wispy, ponytail-like clouds, usually indicate good weather, but could mean there could be a change in the next day or two.
Another way to predict the weather is to look at the visibility in the sky, both in the morning and at night. This is useful for both winter weather forecast and summer weather forecast. If there is haze, which can be determined at night by looking at the moon, the weather should be clear. While many people associate haze with poor air quality, it also means there’s no moisture present to break down the particles.
A somewhat less reliable model for those who want to predict the weather is to look for the dew in the morning. If there is no dew, this could be due to strong winds, which means there is a possibility of a change in the weather. If the weather has been bad over the past day, it is likely that a low pressure system will be replaced by a high pressure system. If the weather has been good in recent history, the opposite effect is likely to occur. If dew is present, more of the same type of weather can be expected. In forecasting winter weather, a northerly wind typically means dry weather, while a southerly wind could mean rain or snow.
While many may scoff at the phrase “smelling the rain,” smells emanating from different things can be another way to predict the weather. For example, swamps usually smell worst just before rain, because that’s when they release the most methane. The flowers are generally most fragrant just before a rain. Getting used to these smells during good weather, then noticing any changes, is one possible way to predict the weather.
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