We are quite optimistic and hopeful that we are now slowly exiting this dark, pandemic tunnel on a worldwide level. Even though there are still severe lockdowns in effect throughout the world, the vaccinations are now beginning to take place, which is more than encouraging and liberating.
Until we get the final OK from each country's local authorities to start roaming this planet with no strict sanitary limitations, we will have to practice our favorite activities solo or up to 2-3 people at a time. Outdoor sports like SUP are the perfect way to get our heads clear and calm, keep our bodies in motion, boost our immune system, while maintaining safe distancing and respecting the need for the current safety measures.
Either you decide to go out for a SUP ride on your own or with a buddy or two, we strongly suggest taking in consideration the weather forecast and the conditions that will be present in the area where you will be paddling. Here are some tips on how to identify the clouds and the forecasting that comes hand in hand with them in order to have a fun and stress-free day in the water. Useful info to protect yourself, stay dry, and fully enjoy SUP and what may even prove to be lifesaving knowledge one day!
According to the World Meteorological Organization's International Cloud Atlas, there are more than 100 types of clouds. The many variations, however, can be grouped into one of 10 basic types depending on their general shape and height in the sky. Thus, the 10 types are:
Low-level clouds (cumulus, stratus, stratocumulus) that lie below 6,500 feet (1,981 m)
Middle clouds (altocumulus, nimbostratus, altostratus) that form between 6,500 and 20,000 feet (1981–6,096 m)
High-level clouds (cirrus, cirrocumulus, cirrostratus) that form above 20,000 feet (6,096 m)
Cumulus clouds are the clouds you learned to draw at an early age and that serve as the symbol of all clouds (much like the snowflake symbolizes winter). Their tops are rounded, puffy, and a brilliant white when sunlit, while their bottoms are flat and relatively dark.
Cumulus clouds develop on clear, sunny days when the sun heats the ground directly below. This is where they get their nickname of "fair weather" clouds. They appear in the late morning, grow, and then disappear toward evening.
Cumulus clouds
Stratus clouds hang low in the sky as a flat, featureless, uniform layer of grayish cloud. They resemble fog that hugs the horizon (instead of the ground). They are seen on dreary, overcast days and are associated with light mist or drizzle.
Stratus clouds
If you took an imaginary knife and spread cumulus clouds together across the sky but not into a smooth layer (like stratus), you'd get stratocumulus—these are low, puffy, grayish or whitish clouds that occur in patches with blue sky visible in between. When viewed from underneath, stratocumulus have a dark, honeycomb appearance.
You're likely to see stratocumulus on mostly cloudy days. They form when there's weak convection in the atmosphere.
Stratocumulus clouds
Altocumulus clouds are the most common clouds in the middle atmosphere. You'll recognize them as white or gray patches that dot the sky in large, rounded masses or clouds that are aligned in parallel bands. They look like the wool of sheep or scales of mackerel fish—hence their nicknames "sheep backs" and "mackerel skies."
Altocumulus are often spotted on warm and humid mornings, especially during summer. They can signal thunderstorms to come later in the day. You may also see them out ahead of cold fronts, in which case they signal the onset of cooler temperatures.
Altocumulus clous
Nimbostratus clouds cover the sky in a dark gray layer. They can extend from the low and middle layers of the atmosphere and are thick enough to blot out the sun.
They are the quintessential rain cloud. You will see them whenever steady rain or snow is falling (or is forecast to fall) over a widespread area.
Nimbostratus
Altostratus appear as gray or bluish-gray sheets of cloud that partially or totally cover the sky at mid-levels. Even though they cover the sky, you can typically still see the sun as a dimly lit disk behind them, but not enough light shines through to cast shadows on the ground.
Altostratus tend to form ahead of a warm or occluded front. They can also occur together with cumulus at a cold front.
Altostratus clouds
Like their name suggests (which is Latin for "curl of hair"), cirrus are thin, white, wispy strands of clouds that streak across the sky. Because cirrus clouds appear above 20,000 feet (6,096 m)—an altitude where low temperatures and low water vapor exist—they are made up of tiny ice crystals rather than water droplets.
Cirrus typically occur in fair weather. They can also form out ahead of warm fronts and large-scale storms like nor'easters and tropical cyclones, so seeing them can also indicate storms may be coming.
Cirrus clouds
NASA's Earthdata site quotes a proverb that sailors learned to warn them of coming rainy weather, “Mares’ tails (cirrus) and mackerel scales (altocumulus) make lofty ships to carry low sails.”
Cirrocumulus clouds are small, white patches of clouds often arranged in rows that live at high altitudes and are made of ice crystals. Called "cloudlets," the individual cloud mounds of cirrocumulus are much smaller than that of altocumulus and stratocumulus and often look like grains.
Cirrocumulus clouds are rare and relatively short-lived, but you'll see them in winter or when it's cold but fair.
Cirrocumulus clouds
Cirrostratus clouds are transparent, whitish clouds that veil or cover nearly the entire sky. A dead giveaway to distinguishing cirrostratus is to look for a "halo" (a ring or circle of light) around the sun or moon. The halo is formed by the refraction of the light on the ice crystals in the clouds, similarly to how sundogs form but in an entire circle rather than just on either side of the sun.
Cirrostratus indicate that a large amount of moisture is present in the upper atmosphere. They're also generally associated with approaching warm fronts.
Cirrostratus Clouds
Cumulonimbus clouds are one of the few clouds that span the low, middle, and high layers. They resemble the cumulus clouds from which they grow, except they rise into towers with bulging upper portions that look like cauliflower. Cumulonimbus cloud tops are usually always flattened in the shape of an anvil or plume. Their bottoms are often hazy and dark.
Cumulonimbus clouds are thunderstorm clouds, so if you see one you can be sure there's a nearby threat of severe weather (short but heavy periods of rainfall, hail, and possibly even tornadoes).
Cumulonimbus clouds
We hope that we have now laid some interesting facts and precious knowledge for you to absorb.
Next time you are out, try and identify the clouds that travel above you.
If you have children, do it as a game, figuring out the type of cloud and the formation it reminds them, helping them connect with nature while spending quality time with you!
You’re welcome!
Enjoy!
SUPinCrete
Your SUP expert in Chania, Crete!
sources & photos:
"Cloud Chart." National Weather Service, NOAA's National Weather Service, 22 Sept. 2016, www.weather.gov/key/cloudchart.
"Cloud Types." UCAR Center for Science Education, University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, scied.ucar.edu/webweather/clouds/cloud-types.
"Weather Facts: Cloud Types (Genera)." WeatherOnline, www.weatheronline.co.uk/reports/wxfacts/Cloud-types.htm.
https://www.thoughtco.com/forecasting-by-cloud-3443737
“Clouds” https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/learn-about/weather/types-of-weather/clouds/