What does a mackerel sky predict?

What does a mackerel sky predict?

(WMC) -A mackerel sky is a beautiful site and a common term for clouds made up of rows of altocumulus and cirrocumulus clouds. When these high clouds take and the barometric pressure begins to fall, usually that means that precipitation associated with a disturbance is likely about 6 to 12 hours away.

What does salmon sky mean?

noun A band of cirro-stratus clouds stretching almost entirely across the sky and tapering at each end, by reason of perspective, so that it resembles the outline of a salmon.

What is a buttermilk sky?

noun. a cloudy sky resembling the mottled or clabbered appearance of buttermilk.

What causes a buttermilk sky?

The thick and rippling milky puffs of midlevel, altocumulus clouds that often herald the approach of wetter weather are sometimes known as a buttermilk sky. Their distinctive curdled texture is usually produced by agitated convection when a cold front lifts a large mass of moist air.

Why do they call it a mackerel sky?

It’s a name given to a sky covered with those same puffy cirrocumulus and altocumulus clouds arranged in a pattern of waves, with blue sky peeking through so that it resembles the scales on the back of a mackerel. If mariners spotted altocumulus clouds and air pressure began to fall, they could expect rain.

Does mackerel sky mean rain?

Precipitation cloud? No, but may signify approaching precipitation. A mackerel sky is a common term for clouds made up of rows of cirrocumulus or altocumulus clouds displaying an undulating, rippling pattern similar in appearance to fish scales; this is caused by high altitude atmospheric waves.

Where did the saying mackerel sky come from?

Why is it called mackerel sky?

This is a result of mid level moisture that happens to be trapped between dry air at the surface and cold dry air filtering in aloft. Wind and gravity come into play to create the rippled pattern in the thin cloud layer. It’s referred to as a mackerel sky because it resembles the scale pattern of a mackerel fish.

What is the highest cloud ever recorded?

Formation. Noctilucent clouds are composed of tiny crystals of water ice up to 100 nm in diameter and exist at a height of about 76 to 85 km (249,000 to 279,000 ft), higher than any other clouds in Earth’s atmosphere.

Why is it called a mackerel sky?

Wind and gravity come into play to create the rippled pattern in the thin cloud layer. It’s referred to as a mackerel sky because it resembles the scale pattern of a mackerel fish.

Why are cirrocumulus clouds sometimes called mackerel?

Cirrocumulus are usually white, but sometimes appear gray. Cirrocumulus clouds are the same size or smaller than the width of your littlest finger when you hold up your hand at arm’s length. If these clouds cover a lot of the sky, it is called a “mackerel sky” because the sky looks like the scales of a fish.

How old is the oldest cloud on Earth?

Astronomers have discovered the largest and oldest mass of water ever detected in the universe — a gigantic, 12-billion-year-old cloud harboring 140 trillion times more water than all of Earth’s oceans combined.