List of Hobbies

Posts Tagged ‘forecast by eye’

Weather watching is a hobby and it is a challenging one for people who take it seriously. The weather can change quickly without warning. It is a challenge to spot the weather pattern and accurately predict what the weather will be like in the future.  Weather forecasters and Meteorologists use many scientific instruments to help them predict future weather patterns. If you just want to do weather watching as a hobby, there is no need to spend a lot of money on these advance and complex equipment. You can just watch the weather and learn to recognize signs. You can get some basic, low cost equipment if you choose to. With experience, you will learn to look for evidence and signs that will help you forecast the weather.

Wind Speed

The speed of the wind can be a give away of what the weather will be like. You can learn to notice cloud movement as well as other signs around you and equate them to a certain range of wind speed. For example, small waves on lakes and small trees swaying often mean the wind speed is about 19-24 mph. Although, you will not know the wind speed exactly, you will know enough to predict the weather pattern. After all, even Meteorologists with their fancy equipment often make incorrect forecasts.

Cloud Spotting

Clouds are made up of tiny drops of water. Their shapes are constantly changing. If you keep watching them, you will learn to notice the relationship between cloud patterns and the weather. For example, large, fluffy, white cumulus clouds usually indicate fine, sunny days. It is fun to be able to tell what the weather is like or is going to be like by just looking at the clouds. You will not always get it right but you may get it right most of the time.

Weather Watching Book

Here is a good book that provides you with all you need to know to follow the weather.  This user-friendly, authoritative resource includes full-color photographs, easy-to-follow guidance, and diagrams showing you everything you need to follow the weather. As our climate continues to change, more than ever before we need to understand how extreme weather affects the world around us. This practical introductory guide offers all the know-how you need.

Weather Watching (Collins Discover)