Red Sky at Morning

Red sky in morning, sailor take warning is the old piece of weather folklore.

Saturday morning was a prime example of how it works across Central Alabama.

Reader Kim Beasley sent us fine photographs of the scene early Saturday morning.

Altocumulus clouds ahead of an approaching disturbance to the west of Alabama glowed a beautiful red in the morning sky at sunrise across the eastern part of the area as clouds thickened to the west.

Here is a visible satellite photograph from that time:

This led to a brilliant daybreak scene.

This situation is exactly what the saying is talking about.

Red sky at morning, sailor take warning. Departing sunshine to the east, arriving clouds in the west foretells an approaching storm system.

Red sky at night, sailor’s delight is the converse. Clouds departing to the east with a nice sunset to the west foretells improving weather.

There are other explanations that involve dust, but for us here in Alabama, I have found the clouds reflecting the setting or rising sun to be the best scenarios for the adage to work.

Doesn’t work all the time, but this weekend’s situation was perfect.

Category: Pre-November 2010 Posts