You know you live in a rural state when you get excited by a train ride. In Maine, passenger rail service ended in 1959 and in recent years was re-established. It is called the Downeaster by Amtrak. I attended an Education Conference on Rigor in downtown Boston. The ride brought me to the hotel. No traffic. My last blog was about summer. Today, let me continue with summer hints.  Here is what to watch for as you spend more time outdoors.

Clouds:

High small cumulus clouds with West to Northwest wind insure fair/ weather.

The higher the clouds the dryer the air.

Uniform and oval-top clouds are not immediate rain threats.

Dew is a sign of a fair tomorrow.

Scattered sparse “mare’s tail” cirrus clouds, if high enough and flow with prevailing wind, it will be fair. When they congeal into webby over- cast they become signs of rain.  

If smoke curls downward, it will rain.

If smoke curls up and disappears, it will be fair.

When cumulus clouds become tufted or chaotic like shell burst, expect rain.

Halo around the sun or moon especially in the Summer predicts the coming of rain.

Lightning from West or Northwest is from a storm that will strike. Lightning from East or South is from a storm that will usually miss you.