The Weiser semi-weekly signal. (Weiser, Washington Co., Idaho) 1904-1911, 1904-08-06
CLOUD BAROMETERS,
HOW TO FoReTELL THE WEATHER
7vgLooKING OVERHEAD.
Cirrus Is the Highest OF All Clouds,
and CumuIus Is Much the Biggest
of Any Form of CIoud--rbe wettest
Cloud of All Is Nimbus,

to rain" This is q remark you may
hear constantly, and few people seem
to realize that the one thing Is by no
means a consequence OF the other
True, all clouds are composed of water
vapor, but it is absurd to imagine that
because clouds become visible in the
sky they are therefore going to dis
charge their contents upon our heads.
On the contrary, some clouds are
actually prophets of fine weather. Cir
rus, for instance, or curl cloud, as 1t Is
often picturesquely called, is, as rule,
fine weather harbinger. Cirrus Is
the highest of all clouds. You can tell
that by the fact that its thin, twisty,
fibrous streaks are illuminated by the
last rays of the setting sun long after
the earth below is wrapped In shadow.
Threads and groups of cirrus clouds,
the finer the better. appearing after a
gale, presage long continuance OF
settled weather. On the other hand,
II after several fine days cirrus appears
In long parallel bands stretching right
across the sky in the form popularity
known as mares tails" there will al
most CeTldlulJ Dt tudbBc VI VIM
and probably rain to follow.
Unlike other clouds, cirrus Is com
posed not of water yapor. but Of tiny
crystals Of ice. You can tell by Its
motion what the pace and direction
of the highest current of wind Quiet
ly as 1t appears to be moving, careful
observation has proved that cirrus
at k.ax VOL OF 10 nf n rpfln
in eighteen seconds.
Another form OF cloud which Is
usually an accompaniment of fine,
warm weather are those cottonlike,
whitish balls which are scientifically
termed cumulus.
Early I'm the morning of fine sum
mer day cumulus begins to form as a
few soft, scattered specks In the blue
above. These specks grow and enlarge
without, as a rule, travelling very fast,
for they are formed by vapor ascend
ing from the earth In columns. By
early afternoon they often cover the
whole sky, but toward 4 or o'clock
they usually decrease and finally van
fish by sunset. If they behave In this
way you may be almost certain that
the ensuing twenty-four hours will be
fine.
On the other hand, If the cumulus
clouds increase toward sunset, turn
black In their centers and shine at the
edges with an angry light. rain will
follow, or. in very hot weather, thunder.
Thunder is specially foretold by the
cumulus clouds showing rounded,
sharply marked tops with silvery white
edges Cumulus. which turns very
dark with black, shaggy edges, means
cold rain accompanied by wind
Cumulus is much the biggest of any
form of cloud A single cloud of this
description Will measure six or even
seven miles from Its fiat, dark base to
Its rounded, glistenlng summit-that is
to say. its bulk and height far exceed
those of earth's greatest mountains
The temperature in such a cloud as
this has been measured to vary over
$50 degrees-that Is from so degrees
Fahrenheit at the base to 10 degrees
below zero at It's summit
Stratus is still another form of cloud
which presents no special indication oil
rain. 1t Is more common at night thar
In the day and consists of long. hori
zontal bands of darklsh cloud, which
lie very low and near the earth's sur
face. 1t rises on calm, clear evenings
after warm days and may often b,
seen In mountainous districts SLOWLY
creeping up the hillsides. II the SUI
rises through layers of stratus 1t Il
usually a sign of fine warm day I,
come. After sunrise, stratus, as a rule
rises higher into the air and slowly dis
appears.
In early summer. when the weather 4
showery, you may perhaps notice
through breaks In the rain clouds, al
appearance of dense white cloudlet
In small. irregular tufts brightly irradi
ated by sunshine. The children call |
mackerel sky. Its real name is CIR,
cumulus. and II is sure sign OF hea
and probably fine weather. Seen II
winter mackerel sky portends thav
and wet, mild weather. II is the mex
highest cloud to the cirrus and 4 some
times called sender cloud.
A sure prophet OF wind and rain 4
GIRO stratus or vane cloud 1t consist
OF long. thin. clouds with torn edge
dying Mt great height above the earth
Ii Is dull I'm color and irregular II
shape
The wettest cloud OF all Is nlmbus
which is seen in its most perfect forn
during thunderstorm. II is a mIxtur
OF other clouds, a dense black or gra.
sheet which often appears TO come ul
against the wind. Usually when Il firs
appears driving up over the horizon
iis edges are fringed and tipped witt
rolling masses Of eumulus The mos
ominous sign about q Dimbus cloud h
when its advancing summit Is uppe'
with . mass " dense, white smokl
cloud, which seems 10 roll over sn'
over This u aD omen OF severe else
tsfeal disturbance and furious squsll
-rfears0p's Weeldg