How much warning do cirrus clouds give you before bad weather arrives?

Cirrus clouds usually indicate that weather will turn within the next twenty-four hours. If you see them thickening and spreading, or if the wispy ends start to hook upwards, it's a sign of changing air pressure and approaching rain.

What's the difference between stratus cloud and nimbostratus?

Stratus is a flat grey layer that creates mist and fine drizzle when it touches the hillside, but nimbostratus is the true rain cloud. Nimbostratus is thick, dark, blocks out the sun completely, and brings steady heavy rain that can last for hours.

Why do lenticular clouds mean dangerous conditions?

Lenticular clouds look like stationary UFOs or pancakes over a summit, but they're actually formed by air being forced over the peak at very high speeds. If you see one, the wind at the top is strong enough to blow you off your feet, even if it's calm in the valley.

Staying on Track

A Hiker’s Guide to Clouds

If you've ever trusted a weather forecast only to get drenched on a hillside, learning to read the clouds yourself might just save your next walk from turning into a soggy trudge back to the car.

19 July 202611 min read