Red at night, sailors' delight ...
This old saw has some basis in science, and is a fairly good predictor of (though no guarantee of) weather at the mid latitudes, in the Northern Hemisphere. In these regions, weather systems generally travel from west to east (following the jet stream). A red sky in the morning indicates a sun rising in clear eastern skies, and casting its rays on storm clouds approaching from the west, hence an unfavourable day At night, the clear sight of the red setting sun would tell a sailor that no storms are to the west, hence a favourable day. Some Weather Rhymes: These rhymes summarize rather neatly, and in an easily remembered form, a number of rules for the amateur weather forecaster. Although there is a considerable degree of truth in them, these rhymes are not infallible and you should use them with caution. Long foretold, long last, Short notice, soon past, Quick rise after low, Sure sign of stronger blow. When the glass falls low, Prepare for a blow; When it slowly rises high, Lofty canvas you may fly. At sea with low and falling glass Soundly sleeps a careless ass, Only when it's high and rising Truly rests a careful wise one. Wind and Weather A red sky at night is a sailor's delight, A red sky in the morning is a sailorman's warning. The evening red and morning gray are sure signs of a fine day, But the evening gray and the morning red, Makes the sailor shake his head. Mackerel sky and mares' tails, make lofty ships carry low sails. When the wind shifts against the sun, Trust it not, for back it will run. When rain comes before the wind, Halyards, sheets and braces mind, But when wind comes before rain Soon you may make sail again. If clouds are gathering thick and fast, Keep sharp look out for sail and mast, But if they slowly onward crawl, Shoot your lines, nets and trawl. See also: “Weather Wisdom - Some Simple Rules of Thumb” at: http://cruisersforum.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1785 and “Weather Information Links” http://cruisersforum.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1767 SOME WEATHER OBSERVATIONS ~ and their ~ LIKELY MEANINGS BAROMETER WIND LIKELY WEATHER FORECAST >30.2 SW ➛NW & Steady Fair, Small Temperature Change 30.1 - 30.2 SW ➛NW & Steady Fair 1-2 Days, Steady Temperature 30.0 Falling NE ➛SE Rain in a few Days 30.1 - 30.2 Falling NE ➛SE Wind & Rain in 12 Hrs > 30.1 Falling NE ➛E SUMMER: Lt. Wind & Rain in 3 Days WINTER: Snow & Low Temperatures < 29.8 Falling Fast NE Storm Warning & Rain/Snow 30.1 - 30.2 Rising SW ➛NW Fair, but Rain in 48 Hours >30.1 Falling Fast NE ➛E SUMMER: Rain in 1 Day WINTER: Rain or Snow in 12 Hours 30.1 - 30.2 Falling Fast SE ➛S Wind & Rain in 12 Hours >30.2 Falling SW ➛NW Fair for a few days, Rising Temperature CLOUD TYPE APPEARANCE LIKELY FORECAST Cirrus High, Whispy, White Warm & Fair Stratus High, Grey, in Flat Sheets Drizzle Cumulus Puffy, White Fair, but Watch Out if they Darken Alto- Stratus Thickening, Darkening, Medium Alt’ Possible Rain Alto-Cumulus Cotton Puffs Fair, but Possible Storm Strato-Cumulus Tightly Layered Puffballs, Medium Altitude Change Cumulo-Nimbus Dark, Tightly Packed Balls Worsening , Possible Lightning Ciro-Cumulo-Nimbus Puffballs, Mackerel Sky Fair, but Changing Nimbo-Stratus Heavy, Low, Grey, Thick Fog, Drizzle, Rain Cirro-Stratus High Sheets or Grey Haze, Solar/Lunar Halo Fair, but Possible Rain OOPS - sorry it didn't format properly. It's a Weather Cheat Sheet Table. I could FAX it to anyone who wants one. FWIW, Gord May
This old saw has some basis in science, and is a fairly good predictor of (though no guarantee of) weather at the mid latitudes, in the Northern Hemisphere. In these regions, weather systems generally travel from west to east (following the jet stream). A red sky in the morning indicates a sun rising in clear eastern skies, and casting its rays on storm clouds approaching from the west, hence an unfavourable day At night, the clear sight of the red setting sun would tell a sailor that no storms are to the west, hence a favourable day. Some Weather Rhymes: These rhymes summarize rather neatly, and in an easily remembered form, a number of rules for the amateur weather forecaster. Although there is a considerable degree of truth in them, these rhymes are not infallible and you should use them with caution. Long foretold, long last, Short notice, soon past, Quick rise after low, Sure sign of stronger blow. When the glass falls low, Prepare for a blow; When it slowly rises high, Lofty canvas you may fly. At sea with low and falling glass Soundly sleeps a careless ass, Only when it's high and rising Truly rests a careful wise one. Wind and Weather A red sky at night is a sailor's delight, A red sky in the morning is a sailorman's warning. The evening red and morning gray are sure signs of a fine day, But the evening gray and the morning red, Makes the sailor shake his head. Mackerel sky and mares' tails, make lofty ships carry low sails. When the wind shifts against the sun, Trust it not, for back it will run. When rain comes before the wind, Halyards, sheets and braces mind, But when wind comes before rain Soon you may make sail again. If clouds are gathering thick and fast, Keep sharp look out for sail and mast, But if they slowly onward crawl, Shoot your lines, nets and trawl. See also: “Weather Wisdom - Some Simple Rules of Thumb” at: http://cruisersforum.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1785 and “Weather Information Links” http://cruisersforum.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1767 SOME WEATHER OBSERVATIONS ~ and their ~ LIKELY MEANINGS BAROMETER WIND LIKELY WEATHER FORECAST >30.2 SW ➛NW & Steady Fair, Small Temperature Change 30.1 - 30.2 SW ➛NW & Steady Fair 1-2 Days, Steady Temperature 30.0 Falling NE ➛SE Rain in a few Days 30.1 - 30.2 Falling NE ➛SE Wind & Rain in 12 Hrs > 30.1 Falling NE ➛E SUMMER: Lt. Wind & Rain in 3 Days WINTER: Snow & Low Temperatures < 29.8 Falling Fast NE Storm Warning & Rain/Snow 30.1 - 30.2 Rising SW ➛NW Fair, but Rain in 48 Hours >30.1 Falling Fast NE ➛E SUMMER: Rain in 1 Day WINTER: Rain or Snow in 12 Hours 30.1 - 30.2 Falling Fast SE ➛S Wind & Rain in 12 Hours >30.2 Falling SW ➛NW Fair for a few days, Rising Temperature CLOUD TYPE APPEARANCE LIKELY FORECAST Cirrus High, Whispy, White Warm & Fair Stratus High, Grey, in Flat Sheets Drizzle Cumulus Puffy, White Fair, but Watch Out if they Darken Alto- Stratus Thickening, Darkening, Medium Alt’ Possible Rain Alto-Cumulus Cotton Puffs Fair, but Possible Storm Strato-Cumulus Tightly Layered Puffballs, Medium Altitude Change Cumulo-Nimbus Dark, Tightly Packed Balls Worsening , Possible Lightning Ciro-Cumulo-Nimbus Puffballs, Mackerel Sky Fair, but Changing Nimbo-Stratus Heavy, Low, Grey, Thick Fog, Drizzle, Rain Cirro-Stratus High Sheets or Grey Haze, Solar/Lunar Halo Fair, but Possible Rain OOPS - sorry it didn't format properly. It's a Weather Cheat Sheet Table. I could FAX it to anyone who wants one. FWIW, Gord May
