Tuesday, July 8, 2008

A Lesson In Clouds

It is a typical summer day in the south – blistering hot temps in the mid 90s with suffocating humidity. The heat and humidity build throughout the day producing powerful summer storms. But not today. You have only to look up into the sky to try your luck at weather forecasting. Clouds give us a clue about what is going on in our atmosphere and how the weather might change in the hours or even days to come. Each type of cloud forms in a different way, and each brings its own kind of weather. Click here for a weather forcasting cloud chart.

Each evening when I come home from work, I give our plants and flowers a spritz of water while the pups sniff around the yard. The cicadas are audibly louder tonight as they cry for rain. The noise is deafening. Our black Scottish Terrier, Dianora, wilts in the heat while her canine counterparts high-tail to the cooler interior of the house. Wimps.

I watch the sky as clouds build and roll in the distant west. Stratocumulus clouds are low, puffy and gray. Most form in rows with blue sky visible in between them. Rain rarely occurs with stratocumulus clouds, however, they can turn into nimbostratus clouds. We need rain. But it looks like we won't get lucky tonight. Already the clouds have dissipated as the sun slowly sets in the west and the day loses its heat. Maybe tomorrow...

5 comments:

Jamie Payne said...

I love thunder storms! To keep my boys from getting scared during storms, I tell them that the thunder is really a group of angels bowling in the sky. When it's a big boom, I tell them one of the angels just got a strike. We clap our hands to cheer the angles on! They won't believe me forever, but right now it works:)

Chere said...

As is true in the south, it can be nice and dry at you house and pouring down rain at mine. We did get rain some time last night. Our decks were wet this morning. Jamie, I have tried to tell Dixie and Bella about the bowling. They will not fall for it. They sit in my lap and shake all over. Poor babies. They would also sit and my lap and shake if you guys were here cheering. What's a dog mommy to do?

Roxanne Schwandt said...

Beautiful cloud pictures! You need to apply for national geographic with your fabulous photography knack that you've got!
I love Jamie's comment about the Angles bowling. My mom told us that same story, and that God is moving around his furniture. He sure has some big, heavy couches!

Janette said...

Simply without a shadow of doubt gorgeous!!! I love those pics. I also love to look up at the sky at night while sitting in our hot tub and enjoy the beauty of the stars.

Deb said...

Up here in Roswell, we were cloud covered all day which turned into huge thunderstorms and cancelled Erika's plans to see Tom Petty. :( At least somebody got a little rain!
And I love the cloud photos...:)