By Daniel Leathers
Special to NKyTribune
In the world of the outdoorsman, there is one constant…the weather. While the form weather takes on may change from day to day or even hour to hour, weather conditions should always be taken into consideration when planning and executing an expedition.
Numerous weather apps for smart phones, ipads, and tablets have been developed to give the outdoorsman a better chance of being prepared for what may occur. These apps include everything including barometric pressure, temperature, precipitation chance as well as humidity and wind speed to name a few.
Some even delve into moon phases as they can affect hunting and fishing.
However, you can never depend completely on technology and leave out the old standby of looking at that sky. Clouds can tell us a lot about the coming weather trends. Many times people push off some of the old folklore as old wives tales when they should pay attention to the.
Most of the folklore that pertains to weather has scientific reasons, but is generally easier to remember. Some of these include:
Color of the sky: Red skies at sunset tell of fine weather in the near future. While red skies at sunrise warns of foul weather. A bright yellow sky at sunset tells of wind and a pale yellow tells of wet weather impending.
Clouds: Soft and delicate looking clouds foretell pleasant weather with light breezes. However, dark, inky looking clouds tell of harsh wet weather with more boastful winds. You can also tell by the wispy clouds that a change in the weather is on the way and the height of the clouds will tell how long you have to wait on that change.
Watch the animals: When birds and bats fly low to the ground, the barometric pressure is low and bad weather is soon to come. Also, animals that normally have a fair size range that they travel will stay close to their dens and homes when bad weather is in the way.
Many pages could be written about changes in weather and how the observant outdoorsman can predict the coming weather. One resource for this, though perhaps unexpected, is the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Check out their website at www.noaa.gov for more information on weather patterns and how to predict the weather for your area by being a good observer of nature.
Before you set off on your next adventure, tune in to the local weather forecast or just look outside and do your own forecast. Testing your forecast against the weatherman is always fun.
Remember, no matter how you choose to spend your time this season, don’t leave the outdoors out. Make it a part of every season.
Veteran outdoorsman Daniel Leathers is a U.S. Army veteran and also has worked as the director of the Outdoor Program for the Boy Scouts of America in Central and Western Kentucky and as the regional director for the National Wild Turkey Federation. He is the co-founder of Longhunter Outfitters, an outdoor skills, guide service and experiential learning company. Email him at leathers11@live.com.