need you now

August 25, 2010

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Lady Antebellum - Need You Now

 

How to Predict Rain Without Relying on Weather Forecasts

August 3, 2010

Global climate change has made the weather so unpredictable that it’s already August and the country hasn’t experienced enough rain yet. Aside from the problem of water shortage this has caused, the crazy weather is also making it hard for people to decide what to wear on a certain day. Do you wear something light and breezy or go for long-sleeved shirts or a jacket? Do you need to bring an umbrella and wear your boots or just go out in your plain T-shirt and sneakers? Many of us wake up to a bright, sunny morning only to be soaked to our socks in the afternoon and then later experience an uncomfortable, humid evening.

If you’re tired of relying on weather forecasts that nearly always miss, you’ll be glad to know you can actually predict rain yourself by simply observing natural phenomena around you. Read on to predict rain without hearing the news or using any kind of forecasting device.

Observe the sun and the color of the sky – Wear your sunglasses and take a look at the sun. If it’s hazy, that may mean that atmospheric conditions are priming to create precipitation. Also, at sunrise, look out your window; and if the color of the sky is red, it might rain later in the day.

Look out for the moon ring – At night, check if there’s a whitish ring around the moon as this signals that rain is coming soon. This whitish ring is usually caused by moonlight shining through cirrostratus clouds, which are high, thin clouds that form in the sky when cool, dry air meets warm, moist air.

Beware of a clear moon – Don’t take a clear, luminous moon as a good sign of good weather tomorrow. A clear moon usually indicates rain since when a low-pressure system approaches, the air in front of the moon is rid of dust and other microscopic particles.

Check the sky for cirrus clouds – Cirrus clouds are elongated and fine clouds that float high up in the sky. Their appearance points to fair weather but some have also observed that they signal a change in the weather that’s coming soon.

Distinguish between stratocumulus and nimbostratus – Don’t fret if you see bloated gray clouds that glide low in the sky as these are stratocumulus clouds that almost always fail to produce rain. However, watch out for darker-colored clouds with a rough bottom because these are nimbostratus clouds that usually creates rainfall.

Track cloud movement – It takes some patience to see the movement of clouds because you have to be still and really focus on them to see their gradual movement. If clouds are traveling in opposite directions, this could mean that a storm is on its way. In addition, clouds that appear low in the sky during the early hours of the night are also indicative of precipitation.

Be warned by birds and bats – It’s been observed that birds and bands fly lower before rainfall. Atmospheric pressure generates the lift that pushes these animals higher in the sky. When pressure drops, they tend to fly lower to the ground because there’s not enough lift to force them upwards. In addition, loud birds could indicate an approaching weather disturbance.

Take the spiders’ and roaches’ warning – While watching animal behavior to predict rain has long been part of local folklore, there’s actually a scientific basis to this. Animals are equipped with sensors that predict rain and warn them to take shelter. Insects like spiders and cockroaches have been observed to come out of their hiding places and get more excited before rain falls.

Smell your environment – Even plants react to impending precipitation. People have noticed that plants tend to give off a greener or fresher scent just before a rain or a storm. In contrast, if you live near a marsh or swamp, go outside and smell your surroundings. If rain is forming in the sky, you should notice that the air stinks more than the usual because the drop in atmospheric pressure induces the soil to release methane gas, which smells bad.

All of these are not hard, scientific ways to predict rain but they have a scientific and logical basis, which makes them pretty reliable. Next time you head out on your way to the office, take stock of your surroundings first for signs of rain heading your way. If you notice many of these signs, it might be best to bring your umbrella and pair of boots just to be sure.