What Exactly Are “Fair Skies”?
Believe it or not, this weather term actually has an official definition. Read more!
You’re about to hop on a plane for a distant land, and like many people, you might head to your computer to check the weather to see what’s forecasted for your trip: 50 degree temperatures under fair skies. You “get” the temperature part, but what exactly does it mean by fair skies? Sounds innocuous enough, but should you pack anything extra?
We hear many descriptive terms used for a weather forecast. Some are terms we know (wind, chance of rain, snow), but others can be shrouded in a bit of mystery. We sort of know what they mean. Blizzard is a great example: We know it involves snow and wind, but not necessarily the specifics. Here’s the official definition: large amounts of snow or blowing snow, 35 mph winds, with a visibility of 1/4 mile or less, for a duration of 3 hours or more.
Fair skies is another example. Believe it or not, this term is more than just a descriptive one; it too has an official definition. (Check out more weather terms here!).
First, understand that your basic weather forecast includes the following 5 weather elements: precipitation, probability of precipitation, temperature, wind, and sky condition.
Sky condition refers to the amount of cloud cover overhead. Sky conditions are an important part of the weather equation and, along with the other 4 weather elements, provide the full local forecast picture so you and your family can plan accordingly.
Here’s how the National Weather Service defines each of the sky condition terms you often hear:
| Terminology | Average Sky Cover |
|---|---|
| Cloudy | 90-100% |
| Mostly cloudy | 70-80% |
| Partly Cloudy/ Partly Sunny | 30-60% |
| Mostly Clear/ Mostly Sunny | 10-30% |
| Clear/Sunny | 0-10% |
| Fair | Less than 40% cloud cover, no precipitation and no extreme weather |
So, hearing “fair skies” lets you know how much blue sky you are likely to see. It has no bearing on what the temperature is outside — that’s a separate weather element. In fact, you can have “fair skies” whether the temperature is 24° F or 84° F.
So, now you’re in the know! Is there another weather term you aren’t sure about? Ask us here!
The Farmers’ Almanac provides 16 months of long-range weather forecasts. Access our weather online!
This article was published by the staff at Farmers' Almanac. Do you have a question or an idea for an article? Contact us!
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Farmers' Almanac Staffhttps://www.farmersalmanac.com/author/fa-admin
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Farmers' Almanac Staffhttps://www.farmersalmanac.com/author/fa-admin
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Farmers' Almanac Staffhttps://www.farmersalmanac.com/author/fa-admin
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Farmers' Almanac Staffhttps://www.farmersalmanac.com/author/fa-admin
I’ve heard the blessing fair skies and following seas.. What does the following seas part mean?
WIERD but COOL
WIERD.
weird
Fair to middling is an expression I have heard my parents and others say a few years ago when I was young. It means from being not bad weather out to getting better [nicer] for however long.] It works for me God bless you all.
What does dew point mean? How is it calculated and what effect does it have on weather?
A term I have often hear is “fair to middling”. Since fair skies has an actual definition, I presume “fair to middling” also has one. What does that mean in actual weather?