The Reason Why / A Careful Collection of Many Hundreds of Reasons for Things Which, Though Generally Believed, Are Imperfectly Understood

by Robert Kemp Philp

Fig. 9.—CUMULO-STRATUS, OR TWAIN CLOUD.

388. Why are clouds said to indicate the changes of the weather?

Because, as it is the state of the clouds that, to a great extent, determines the state of the weather, the formation of the clouds must predicate approaching changes.

389. What do cirrus clouds foretell?

Cirrus clouds foretell fine weather, when they fly high, and are thin and light.

They foretell light rain when, after a long continuance of fine weather, they form fleecy lines stretched across the sky.

They foretell a gale of wind when, for some successive days, they gather in the same quarter of the heavens, as if denoting the point from which to expect the coming gale. ([Fig. 5]).

390. What do cumulus clouds foretell?

Cumulus clouds, when they are well defined, and advance with the wind, foretell fine weather.