Victor Hugo and Nature’s Signs
My thanks to Lucy Johnson for this fascinating email and permission to share: Dear Tristan, Have you read Victor Hugo Toilers of the Sea? It’s a…
Tag: weather lore
The Backstory to a Weather Book
In 2018 I set out to write a book about the weather. The plan was to stick true to a philosophy and approach that I…
8am. Which Way Are We Looking?
I took the above photo in Sussex at 8am. Which direction are we looking and why? There are some weak clues in the tree branches, slightly…
What is a Shelf or Arcus Cloud?
Shelf or Arcus clouds appear near a thunderstorm and can warn of their proximity. Sometimes a cloud rides ahead and heralds the imminent arrival of…
The Cross-Winds Rule
When upper and lower winds are moving at right-angles, a major weather change is imminent. Look at the low and high clouds in the time…
How to Interpet the Weather Using the Jet Stream
What Are Jet Stream Ropes? The following is an excerpt from the book, The Secret World of Weather, by Tristan Gooley. Jet streams are snaking,…
The First Long Contrail
It is very satisfying to notice the first long contrail, it’s one of the earliest warnings of a weather change. A front is likely on…
Rainbow Natural Navigation Mini Quiz
I took this photo of a rainbow in Sussex, southern England, late in the day, a little over a week ago. Which way are we…
The Temperature Rises Before Snow Arrives
The temperature often rises just before it snows, but why? When it is very cold in winter, we instinctively feel that snow is likely. It…
Frost in Coleridge’s Cottage
It was great to visit Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s cottage in Nether Stowey, Somerset. He wrote the poem ‘Frost at Midnight’ in this room. The first 3…
Saharan Dust Moon Halo
There was a 22 Degree halo around the moon a couple of nights ago. This is a sign of cirrostratus, a high veil of icy…
How to Beat the Wind
I’ve been faced with an interesting weather challenge recently. I needed to take a sail off my boat for maintenance. This is something I can…
What is a Frost Hollow?
A frost hollow is a local low point in a landscape where cold dense air collects overnight. It is also known as a ‘frost pocket’.…
When clouds appear like rocks and towers…
… the Earth’s refreshed by frequent showers. It is so rewarding when weather lore helps us remember a clue. It is doubly satisfying when this…
Dew: A Sign of a Clear Skies
There are many signs within dew, but the simplest one is that you are most likely to see it after clear and cloudless skies overnight.…
The Michael Ball Show on Radio 2
It was a joy and an honour to be a guest on the legendary Michael Ball Show on Radio 2 on Sunday. If you missed…
Two Cloud Signs Showing Rain Likely Soon
There are two strong cloud signs in this picture showing that rain is likely soon. A heavy downpour started 20 minutes after this photos was…
The Lost Material – Some Thoughts on Writing
Some sentences are blessed. They leap onto the page, flick their hair and then go through editing life without a care. Months later they bounce…
Which Way Are We Looking?
Which direction are we looking in this picture? North, East, South or West? There are many clues. *** Spoiler Alert, here comes the answer… ***…
It’s Publication Day!
It’s publication day for The Secret World of Weather! Happy weather sign hunting!
The First Review is In!
The first review of The Secret World of Weather is in and it’s a fun one. It’s in the Times today. “Gooley marshals a riveting…