Decoding Clouds: Your 3-Hour Weather Forecast

Now that you've listened to "Decoding Clouds," you're ready to become a weather detective! Your mission is to observe the clouds outside and use your new knowledge to make a short-term weather forecast.

The Big Question

Can we predict the weather for the next few hours just by looking at the clouds?

What You'll Need

• A notebook or paper
• A pencil or crayon

Mission Steps

1. Look Up!. Go outside or look out a window and observe the clouds in the sky.
2. Draw What You See. In your notebook, draw the shapes of the clouds you see. Try to notice if they are high or low, fluffy or wispy.
3. Identify Cloud Types. Based on what you learned in the episode, try to name the types of clouds you drew (e.g., cirrus, cumulus, cumulonimbus).
4. Make Your Forecast. Write down what you think the weather will be like in the next 3 hours based on your cloud observations. Will it be sunny, rainy, or windy?

Talk About It

• What did the clouds look like today?
• What kind of clouds did you see, and what do they usually mean for the weather?
• Did your cloud forecast match what happened later that day?

Take It Further

For older rangers (9-12), try keeping a cloud journal for a week. Draw the clouds each day and record your 3-hour forecast. See if you can find patterns and get better at predicting the weather!

FAQ

Q: What if I can't see any clouds? A: That's okay! Clear skies can also tell us something about the weather. Think about what that means for your forecast.

Q: My clouds don't look exactly like the pictures. What should I do? A: Nature is full of variety! Focus on the main characteristics: Are they high and wispy, low and puffy, or big and dark? That's enough to make a good guess.