Sky Signs (From Worcester News)

Sky Signs

10:02am Monday 15th June 2009 in

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To the doctor the blood stream enables him or her to find the cause of any illness by the state of the blood. To a meteorologist the clouds and sky can give clues to the weather down wind.

There are many signs of the sky that can predict future weather over a number of days. The hue of certain clouds as well as the type can offer a clear forecast.

Red skies at sunset often indicate that the air is dry and dust laden indicating settled weather conditions. Low cloud towards the west showing angry reds, as the sun rises in the east early morning-tide, often spells bad weather coming in from the west off the Atlantic. Red sky at night, shepherd's delight, red sky in the morning, shepherds warning.

Sayings about skies are the best known clues about the weather to come, sayings passed down from generation to generation continue to fascinate many individuals. A ring around the moon or sun (lunar or solar halo) is often a forerunner of rain, and is caused by the refraction of light by ice crystals in high level clouds. These clouds run ahead of low pressure systems. The bigger the ring the nearer the rain.

Sky signs are often more accurate in terms of weather prediction, because what you see is the weather happening at the moment, which can give you a good idea of the weather to come.

Next Week: Thunderstorms.

Glossary: Evaporation: The change from liquid to gas.

Weather for coming week Monday 15th June-Friday 19th June.

High pressure taking over during Thursday/Friday into Saturday.

Monday brings sunshine and local slow moving thunderstorms.

Tuesday fine and warm weather.

Wednesday fair then some rain.

Thursday-Saturday fine and warm.

Maximum temperature 20-23c.

Minimum temperature 10-14c.

Last Week's Observations (Monday-Sunday) Highest day temperature.......23.2c on Saturday 13th June.

Lowest night temperature.....4.0c on Thursday 11th June.

Wettest day........................53.4 mm on Wednesday 10th June.