Secrets of the weather

Never get caught in the rain again! Tristan Gooley’s fascinating new book reveals what to look for when you step outside…

Learn to read the signs and never get caught in the rain again!

We’ve all been there – whether it’s popping to the shops and getting caught in an unexpected downpour or cursing ourselves for going out without a cardi on a seemingly sunny day, the British weather can seem impossible to predict. But by following the clues in every cloud and the signs in every swish of wind, you’ll discover what it might do next.

CLOUD BUSTING

The more types of clouds you can see, the worse the forecast.

If the sky is a flat blanket of grey, the air is stable, so the current weather will last for a while. If you can see lots of different clouds – especially ones that seem taller than they are wide – it’s unstable and you’re likely to get rain.

The bottom of the cloud tells you whether it’s going to rain.

If you see a dark cloud overhead, have a look at its underside. If it’s jagged and blurred, that cloud is raining and you’re about to get wet. If it’s flat, you’re likely to stay dry.

A PLACE IN THE SUN

The best place to warm up on a sunny but cold day is under a bus stop or anywhere you can stand where the sun reaches you but there’s some kind of roof. These ‘sun pockets’ trap the heat as it rises; you’ll be surprised how toasty it is.

The best place to cool down on a hot day is under a large isolated tree; even the tiniest breeze will accelerate underneath the tree, as it’s effectively bumping into it, so it acts almost like a wild air conditioning system.

Mist opportunity

Early morning mist means a nice day ahead. It indicates there were no clouds overnight, so it’s likely that in a few hours’ time there will be sunshine.

Look up to see when the fog will lift. When it’s beginning to clear, you’ll see blue sky above you, even when it still looks thick on the horizon.

The best tree umbrella

If you’re out when it starts to rain, conifers are better to shelter under than oaks as the needles hold off more rain than other types of leaves.

GONE WITH THE WIND

Sudden gusts are a sign of a storm.

A storm cloud both sucks up wind towards it and spits it back out, which is why we experience cold, gusty winds when a storm is brewing.

A gentle breeze can indicate good weather.

If, on a warm day, you get a steady breeze that’s a bit cooler than you’re expecting, that’s a sign of good weather to come. The coolness you’re feeling is actually dry air, which means the good weather is going to hold for a while.

RED SKY AT NIGHT

There’s a lot of truth to the saying ‘red sky at night, shepherd’s delight’ because it indicates it’s clear to the west where the sun is setting. As most of our weather comes from the west, it means there’s nothing on its way. ‘Red sky in the morning, shepherd’s warning’ is less dependable because all it shows is that it’s clear to the east, from where we get less weather.