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While there are nifty smartphone apps that can help you predict weather conditions, there are times when you travel/camp and your smartphone runs out. Even worse than running out of power is being out of range of the cell phone tower – that's when hiking/camping etc. while doing it.
It's time to learn to watch the sky! Learning the ancient art of sky watching, when you leave your campsite for a mid-morning hike, you'll find yourself grabbing that raincoat or umbrella and be fully prepared for the upcoming downpour. And you'll soon learn how to predict the weather better than your local TV meteorologist.
High Clouds
High Clouds are found between 16,500 and 40,000 feet. The three types of high clouds are Cirrus, Cirrostratus, and Cirrocumulus.
Cirrus Clouds
These feathery clouds indicate a great weather day.
Cirrostratus Clouds
This layer tends to fill the entire horizon like clouds. And indicate the probability of rain or snow after about half a day to a day.
Cirrocumulus Clouds
These larger plume-like clouds tend to form clumps or group together. In most states, these clouds mean fair to mild weather.
Medium Range Clouds
Mid-range clouds are found between 6,500 and 23,000 feet. The three mid-range clouds are Altostratus, Altocumulus, and Nimbostratus.
Altostratus Clouds
These silver-streaked clouds dominate the horizon and indicate bad weather anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours in the future.
Altocumulus Clouds
When you see these fluffy clouds, start preparing for a storm in a few hours.
Nimbostratus Clouds
The sky was the color of a television tuned to a dead channel. And these are your standard-bearing rainclouds.
low clouds
Low clouds can be found up to 6,500 feet from near the Earth's surface. The four types of low clouds are Cumulus, Stratus, Cumulonimbus, and Stratocumulus.
Cumulus Clouds
These fluffy cotton ball-shaped clouds indicate mild weather, but watch out for large clusters. Once these clouds start to gather together, it can rain or snow in a few hours.
Stratus Clouds
These silver-streaked clouds block the sun and can bring rain or light snow for anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours.
Cumulonimbus Clouds
These dense clouds are your typical storm clouds.
a storm or
Prepare for atmospheric instability.
Be alert to dangerous severe weather conditions such as a hurricane.
Stratocumulus Clouds
These fluffy white clouds dot the sky, and the good news is they don't bring rain or snow.