Do you still remember that feeling that you are lying on your back in the grass, staring at the clouds and seeing all kinds of figures in them. You dream away and imagine yourself on tropical islands. At least that was the daydream I used to have when I lay on my back in the grass, staring at the clouds. Aware of nothing else but only the calm that emanated from the clouds.
Gone are the days when I gazed at the clouds so carelessly. The days when I imagined myself on a tropical island when I look at the clouds are also far behind me. Nowadays I look at the clouds every day, but the dreams of yesteryear are over.
These days I look at the clouds to see if I should put on a raincoat when I go for a walk with the dogs. Unfortunately, in recent years, the answer to this has so often been, “YES, you have to”. So I just bought an outdoor jacket. Living in the rainy Netherlands, it just happens too often that I got soaked during a walk. And yes, I know, I don't melt from a little rainwater. But believe me when I say that I like to keep my clothes dry during those walks.
Still, those same clouds can tell you a lot, and sometimes give you beautiful photographic images. You just have to have your camera with you, that's another thing. These days I don't have my camera with me more often than I do. But watching the clouds continues! Do you actually know what clouds can tell you?
Yes, serious! Clouds can tell you so much! As long as you know what to look out for! Now, of course, I'm talking about the weather. That makes sense, because clouds tell you all about that. Usually, based on the type of clouds you see, you can even predict whether precipitation will fall. And believe me, if you, like me, go out every day with 3 dogs for a walk, which on average amounts to about 6 walks a day… then you will be very happy if you have learned to look at the clouds. This can prevent another downpour pattering on your head. Okay, to be honest I have to say that I have to go for a walk anyway, rain or dry ... it doesn't matter.
But what does count is that by looking at the clouds I can now make a good estimate whether it will continue to rain for a long time. And if I think it might be not too bad, and it will be dry after about half an hour, then I really wait a while!
Well, what kind of clouds do you have then? A lot, and I really don't know them all. But I do know, for example, the well-known Dutch Cumulus clouds. The so-called Cumulus cloud. And I like to see this cloud because it is also known as the 'fair weather cloud'. Then there is the Cumulonimbus cloud, and you don't like to see it because that is also called the 'thundercloud'. If you see this cloud, you'd better just stay inside. Heavy rain and thunderstorms come from these clouds.
We see the Stratus clouds all too often in the Netherlands, unfortunately! And you've probably seen me write that it was another day of 50 shades of gray, well that's it. Next time I will write that I am locked in Stratus clouds.
Fun fact: Stratus clouds can also really hang on the earth's floor, and then we speak of fog. But in fact that is also a Stratus cloud then.
Then the next well-known cloud that you will know is the Cirrus cloud, which is the cloud that you can easily recognize by the feathery white wisps that you see against the clear blue sky. And if you see that, you can safely leave your umbrella at home, because not a drop of rain will fall from these clouds.
