3 Cloud Types to Watch
Lately, I’ve been stuck inside on sunny days, having believed the weatherman who said it was going to rain. I don’t know if it’s just mountain town weather changing so unpredictably or whether they need to find a new weather guy, but it sure does make it tricky to cement plans.
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I never really gave too much thought to evolving weather changes until I started paragliding. But being aware of the clouds is not solely helpful for flying. The more I hiked and stood on steep rocky mountains, which were warned to be water slides when wet, the more my eyes scanned the horizon for what the heck was happening with the weather.
I was in the Bugaboos recently in BC, Canada, a renowned scramble and alpine climbing spot. On the final day we were there, the sky was like a woman struggling to decide what to wear. I walked through the campsite to refill our water, overhearing several mountaineers trying to wrap their heads around the weather and whether to fulfil their bucket list climbs or crawl back into their sleeping bags. People were packing up tents, afraid it would rain. Others were marching towards the coal, running into disappointed groups returning from the wild, windy coal. Others were frozen, dumbfounded by their apps, “It wasn’t supposed to be like this”. We decided to walk out, unfortunately, to what turned out to be a perfect summer's day.
So on my little journey of understanding the sky, I want to share with you 3 cloud types that can help you plan, stay safe and hopefully not miss a beautiful day out.
Cumulus Clouds
Picture that one white fluffy cloud you knew how to draw as a child. These guys are a classic. There are different species of Cumulus clouds, they can range from being your best friend to a dripping wet rag.
Here they are:
Humilis. (Small or humble, wider than they are tall.)
Mediocris. (Medium, as tall as they are wide.)
Congestus. (Tall boys. Taking the world by storm.)
What you need to know:
Cumulus Humilis and Mediocris are “fair weather clouds”. Some people think perfect weather is “not a cloud in the sky”, but perfect can come in all fluffy shapes and sizes. However, just because these cuties are floating around doesn’t mean that under the right conditions, like baking bread in the oven, these babies can rise into a monster Congestus, or Cumulonimbus, bringing rain on your parade. A helpful tip for predicting afternoon showers is if the Cumulus Clouds develop into the tall stage before midday.
Lenticular Clouds
Lenticular clouds, though sometimes on the rarer side to spot, can be particularly helpful for understanding what is happening with the wind. Lenticular Clouds are often UFO-looking clouds that hang out in the lee side of the mountain (the sheltered side away from the wind). When these flying saucers form in the sky, pinned by the mountainside, they act as a banner warning of fast winds, and perhaps therefore fast changes in weather.
How does this help us? Well, if you’re a pilot or paraglider, seeing lenticular clouds can either give you a heads up that there are strong winds about or inform you of the wind direction. If you’re in the mountains balancing on ridge edges or up high multi-pitch climbing, they’re your sign of fast weather changes, and could help make safe decisions as the day rolls on.
Stratus Clouds
Stratus clouds are a featureless grey cloud, covering the sky like a blanket. When I see the colour grey hanging above my head I think, “surely it will rain today”, but that’s not always the case. Stratus clouds rarely precipitate, and if they are so compelled, will only shed a drizzle. So if you’re like me, someone who instantly draws the curtains in the morning to find out what the weather's doing, give Stratus a chance. She might not give you a sexy tan, but you’ll love her modest coverage on a hot day outdoors. But take note, because Stratus clouds act like a veil over the sky, they can disguise sneaky Cumulonimbus clouds above them, and those guys won’t hold back their downpour.
A book I love that hits the spot for learning all things cloud-related is The Cloudspotter’s Guide by Gavin Pretor-Pinney. He’s humorous, passionate and worth the read. Hope this helps a little navigate your adventures under the open sky.