Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1882-04-13

are frequently mingled together, and four
varieties OF these derivative clouds have
been distinguished. The GIRO. cumuluS
consists of little roundish white clouds,
floating at a high elevation and often re-
sembling flock OF sheep resting upon the
blue back ground Of the sky. In winter
these clouds frequently appear before q
thaw. Between summer showers they
accompany increased heat. They are
common In dry weather.
1.-THE cirro-stratus commonly appears
IN shoals resembling fish In shape. LtS
popular name Is the 'mackerel sky IL is
almost sure indication OF approaching
stormy weather. When it settles down
luto q thin veil, covering the sky, and
making the sun and moon look dim, it 10
certain to be followed by snow or rain.
You will see in it that form following
hose streaks that are now rising In the
outhwest and covering the sky before the
| torn comes.
''Dld you ever zee a battle In the clouds
The cirro-cumuli and GIRO strait are nat
ural enemies. The frst-named ls q fair
weather ard the last foul weather cloud.
When they meet, as they sometimes do,
after summer storm has partially cleared,
there La war in the sky. The cloudy
squadrons encounter In mid-heaven 70 set
tie the question whether sunshine or storm
shall prevail. Ii the GIRO cumuli succeed
the weather will clear; If the clrro-stratI
are victorious, there will be more foul
weather. 1t Is war of destruction, and
the battle usually ends by the total dis
appearance Of one or the other of the two
kinds Of clouds, all assuming the form OF
the successful party.
'Cumulo- stratus 10 the grandest OF all
clouds, and 90 il is the appropriate fore
ruRner Of great storms. LII you ever hap
pened to go up the Hudson when "a thun-
der storm was gathering in the Catskills
you must have seen this cloud dropping
on the mountain tops and hiding the great
peaks like vast curtain. Whenever you
see these clouds looming up you may be
sure that violent change in the atmos-
phere is close al hand. The cumulo-stra-
tus consists of layer or foundation Of
dark -colored stratus cloud nearest the
earth, surmounted by bulky piles of very
dense cumulus, not white aAd smooth like
the fair weather cumulus, but rough, dark
and threatening.
''One of the grandest sights in the world
ls the majestic march of the cumulo-
stratus clouds across hilly country dis
tricC in advance of violent storm. Ami
mails, as well as men, are intimidated by
the fearful appearance OF the heavens, and
show their fear by trembling and hurrying
10 places of shelter. These clouds CON-
monty make their appearance first in the
nd
above the horizon. Soon the rumbling OF
heavy thunder is heard, and as the clouds
approach the zenith, blottlng out the sun,
titful gusts of wind arise, followed by
periods of oppressive calm. Sometimes q
whirling motion is seen i'm the clouds 10
the earth, 1t 10 a tornado, and nobody
CAL tell what damage ii may do. The
cumulo-strati foreteu storm sew
eral hours in advance. The longer they
linger near the horizon the more violent
the storm is apt to De.
The last class, or rather sub class, Of
clouds is the nimbus, or black rain cloud,
which spreads over the heavens Just as
the storm begins. 1t Is made up OK a
mixture of all the other kinds, and appears
in every storm, but is seen II Its most
characteristic form in O thunder storm
Sometimes 1t approaches, within @ few
hundred feet OF the earth, and at other
times it is 2, 900 or Q, 900 feet high, While
it always appears black or gray from be.
meath, it Is, in fact, surmounted by a
snowy-white cap of cirrus or cumulCs.
have sometimes, in the hills of Central
New York, seen from an elevated station
the passage of a storm through distant
valley. The glitterIng upper. surfaces of
the clouds then preserve beautiful ap-
pearance, while underneath they are dark
and forbldding, and the pouring ram hidss
the landscape.
ION account OF the mixing together OF
the various classes OF clouds, 1t 10 some
times difhcult to accurately distinguish
them apart. A little practIce, however,
will enable any observant person to de-
tect the prevailing characteristics. In
dications vary slightly tor dlfere1t locall-
ties, and some knowledge OF local pecu-
harlties is therefore necessary. ANY one
who watches the clouds Can form many
weather rules for himself that he viii dnd
at least as trustworthy as the predictions
Of Old Probabilities"