Weather
Read cloud formations to forecast weather
Clouds give 6–24 hours of advance warning about incoming weather when you know what to look for.
Step-by-step
High wispy cirrus 'mare's tails' invading a clear sky mean a warm front is 12–24 hours out — expect rain within a day.
Cirrus thickening to a smooth cirrostratus veil (halo around sun or moon) confirms front is closer — often within 12 hours.
Middle-level altostratus turning to low nimbostratus with a lowering, darkening ceiling means active precipitation is beginning.
Tall cumulus towering into anvil-topped cumulonimbus in warm afternoons means thunderstorms — get off ridges and out of exposed water within an hour.
Clearing to fair-weather cumulus with flat bases and blue sky between means the system has passed.
Tip: Watch cloud motion, not just shape. Fast-moving clouds mean strong upper winds and rapidly changing weather.
Related outdoor skills
Educational reference only. Wilderness conditions change fast — practice in low-stakes settings, take a certified wilderness first-aid course, and confirm regional regulations before you rely on any of these skills in the field.