Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?
—Luke 12:56
7338 How to Interpret Clouds
Meteorologists make suggestions such as these for interpreting the clouds: Quickly moving, lowering clouds at dinner time foreshadow poorer weather by breakfast. Billowing, white clouds in summer indicate the likelihood of sudden showers. Dark clouds gathering on a western horizon betoken rain or snow. A cloud-filled summer sky at eventide betokens a hot night.
7339 Improving The Forecast
The computer has been responsible for an impressive improvement in the accuracy of weather predictions. Over a 10-year period, the forecasting of rain has improved to the point where the outlook for tomorrow is now as accurate as the forecast for tonight used to be. In other words, we’ve made a 12-hour improvement in accuracy.
The accuracy in temperature forecasting has improved, also. Our average error in a 24-hour temperature forecast now is only about 3½ degrees.
7340 Ring Around The Moon
This is no longer considered an old wives’ tale, that a round circle around the moon indicates that rain may come within twelve to eighteen hours.
The circle does not go around the moon itself but only within our atmosphere. The reflected light from the moon is dispersed on reaching the earth’s atmosphere, which is a relatively dense gas. During the summer months when the air is dry, a clear image of the moon is seen. However, during the rainy season the atmosphere is filled with water vapour; this causes the light from the moon to be reflected and refracted so as to create a “halo around the moon.”
The brighter the halo, the better are chances for rain.
7341 Groundhog To See His Shadow
On the morning of February 2 each year a contingent of reporters and other curious types descend on the lowly diggings of the famous groundhog of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Later in the day the wire services faithfully relay pictures and text to papers around the country, telling whether or not the groundhog saw his shadow so that we can know whether or not to expect six more weeks of winter.
7342 Prediction Failures
Weathermen have failed so often in forecasting the weather that they now hide behind such statement as, “There is a 10% or a 20% chance of rain.” So, if it rains or not, they are “safe” in their prediction.
One commentator says, “The Weather Bureau has changed its name to “Environmental Science Services Administration—and we still get six inches of snow when the forecast says “Partly Cloudy.”
—Christian Victory
7343 Wet Rope When Raining
A tourist stopped at a combination service station and general store in the country. An old man was basking in the sun, holding a short piece of rope.
“What’s the rope for, sir?” the tourist asked.
“It’s a weather gauge,” replied the old man.
Puzzled the tourist asked, “How can a piece of rope tell the weather?”
“Simple, sonny,” said the old man. “When it swings back and forth the wind is blowing. When it gets wet it’s raining.”
7344 Epigram On Weather Prediction
• One of the most annoying things about weather forecasts is that they’re not wrong all the time, either.
—Farm Journal
See also: Occultism—Fortune Telling.