Look for a change toward clearing when:
The wind shifts from the easterly quarter into the west.
The temperature falls rapidly.
The clouds rise, or break, or lighten perceptibly in color.
Patches of blue sky appear through the rifts in the clouds, wind north.
Raindrops grow smaller after the windshift.
Snowflakes drive less busily, float lazily down, or thin out conspicuously.
Seams appear in the clouds, snow will cease and rain probably.
The thunder and lightning occur only in the eastern quarter.
Permanent clearing will not be effected until the change of the wind to the points on the western half of the compass show that the cyclone has definitely passed to the north or south or over the locality. In winter the cloud covering may move off slowly, but there will be little precipitation after the wind has reached north or west. The bank of cirro-stratus gets thinner and the moon or the sun gradually shines through. In summer clearing is much more abrupt, as is the clouding up. The ability to sense accurately the moment when the weights are shifted and the change to clearing commences takes some observation to acquire, but the advantage is worth it.