Clouds:
Foretellers of weather
About 200 years ago an Englishman classified clouds according to
what they looked like to a person seeing them from the ground. He
grouped them into three classes and gave them Latin names: cirrus,
cumulus, and stratus. These three names, alone and combined with
other Latin words, are still used to identify different cloud
formations.
By being familiar with the different cloud formation and what
weather they portend, you can take appropriate action for your
protection.
Cirrus clouds
Cirrus clouds are the very high clouds that look like thin streaks
or curls. They are usually 6 kilometers or more above the earth and
are usually a sign of fair weather. In cold climates, however,
cirrus clouds that begin to multiply and are accompanied by
increasing winds blowing steadily from a northerly direction
indicate an oncoming blizzard.
Cumulus clouds
Cumulus clouds are fluffy, white, heaped-up clouds. These clouds,
which are much lower than cirrus clouds, are often fair weather
clouds. They are apt to appear around midday on a sunny day,
looking like large cotton balls with flat bottoms. As the day
advances, they may become bigger and push higher into the
atmosphere. Piling up to appear like a mountain of clouds. These
can turn into storm clouds.
Stratus clouds
Stratus clouds are very low, gray clouds, often making an even gray
layer over the whole sky. These clouds generally mean rain.
Nimbus clouds
Nimbus clouds are ram clouds of uniform grayness that extend over
the entire sky
Cumulonimbus clouds
Cumulonimbus is the cloud formation resulting from a cumulus cloud
building up, extending to great heights, and forming in the shape
of an anvil. You can expect a thunderstorm if this cloud is moving
in your direction.
Cirrostratus clouds
Cirrostratus is a fairly uniform layer of high stratus clouds that
are darker than cirrus clouds. Cirrostratus clouds indicate good
weather.
Cirrocumulus clouds
Cirrocumulus is a small, white, round cloud at a high altitude.
Cirrocumulus clouds indicate good weather.
Scuds
A loose, vapory cloud (scud) driven before the wind is a sign of
continuing bad weather.
Based on 'U.S. Army Survival Manual', a public
domain work published by the U.S. Department of Defense that is
available for sale at Amazon.com
