One of the most important factors in a successful camping experience is the weather. Although you may have a tent or RV to escape to if the weather turns “bad” neither of these will provide the space or protection of your homes if the temperature suddenly drops, the winds pick up and the rain or snow starts and continues for days without end. It is, therefore, best to check the weather forecast for the area you are planning to visit before setting off on your camping or backpacking trip thereby being prepared for whatever “mother nature” has planned. However, once you are in camp, on a day hike or an extended backpacking trip, you may not have access to the local forecast so it is smart to have the ability to predict the weather without professional help.
Because conditions vary, it is always a good idea to speak with the local people you meet. Many of them have lived in the area for generations and have a good handle on the weather conditions and are generally ready and willing to give you their opinion. There are also some “weather rhymes” that give an indication of what is to come. Here are a couple of the many “weather rhymes” that may help you predict the weather on your camping trip.
“Red Sky at Night, Sailor’s Delight. Red Sky in the Morning, Sailor Take Warning.”
This “weather rhyme” has been around for a long time and can in fact, be compared to a Bible passage found in Matthew 16:1-3: "When evening comes, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,' and in the morning, 'Today it will be stormy for the sky is red and overcast.' You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times."
Technically speaking, when the western sky is especially clear, there is often a red sunset. This is brought about because as the sun sets, its light shines through more of the lower atmosphere, which contains dust, salt, smoke and pollution. These particles scatter away some of the shorter wavelengths of light (violets and blues), leaving only the longer wavelengths (oranges and reds). If an area of high air pressure is present, the air then sinks. This sinking air holds air contaminants near the earth, making the sunset even redder than usual. This would be the “red sky at night”. In the middle latitudes of the northern hemisphere, weather systems most often approach from the west. Since high pressure generally brings fair weather, this type of red sky at sunset would indicate that clear weather is approaching, which would "delight" a sailor. If the sky is red in the eastern morning sky for the same reasons as above, then the high pressure region has most likely already passed from west to the east, and an area of low pressure may follow. Low pressure usually brings clouds, rain or storms, a warning for sailors.
“Halo Around the Sun or Moon, Rain or Snow Soon”
This “weather rhyme”, although not as well know as the first, has still been around for a long time. Technically speaking, the halo around the sun or moon is a layer of cirrus clouds composed of ice crystals. These crystals act as tiny prisms, forming a white or sometimes colorful halo around the sun or moon. This cirro-stratus cloud often indicates an approaching warm front and an associated area of low pressure. Rain or snow will not always follow, but there is a higher probability of it after a halo is seen, and the brighter the circle the greater the probability.
There are also some other signs that animals gives campers that will help to indicate a change in the coming weather. For example, when the air pressure drops the air becomes heavier and therefore birds and insects generally fly lower in the sky. Some outdoor enthusiasts have also noted that the calls of crows and geese increase with falling air pressure and many hunters and trackers report that large game animals such as deer and elk will often react to wind and air pressure by coming down from the higher mountains areas to seek shelter.
In the British Isles many people predict the chances of rain by the clarity of the church bells as the higher the humidity the clearer the sound. And anyone that suffers from arthritis, bunions or is recovering from a recent broken bone feels the drop in air pressure and finds it very easy to predict a coming storm.
Because most of the natural forecasting methods are short range and not always accurate it is always best to check with the professionals before you go out but just for fun don’t forget to give the proper respect to good old Mr. Ground Hog!
Till Next Time
Eric