Most people like to know in advance what the weather will be like. Weather forecasters often look for signs of fronts approaching – as a warm front approaches, the air pressure decreases and as a cold front approaches the air pressure increases. These changes in pressure often bring rain. A steady area of high pressure often says we can expect dry weather, cold in winter, warm in summer. Professional weather forecasters may use radar to watch how the clouds are moving. Information can also be processed by a computer to show, for example, temperature differences.

 

 

 

Satellite images can show a storm developing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pine cones are also a tool for the amateur weather forecaster. When the air is moist, just before rainfall, pine cones close their scales. In dry weather, the scales open again.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Many well-known sayings help amateur weather forecasters to predict the weather. “Red sky at night, shepherds delight”, says that a red sunset will bring dry and warm weather.