My office window at the University of Missouri commands a broad view to the west, the perfect direction for Midwestern weather buffs. Before dawn this morning, a brilliant full moon set behind a flat bank of clouds, just above the western horizon. Flags atop the ROTC building fluttered in a gentle, south breeze, a hint of change to come.
By mid morning, a swath of high clouds had reached Columbia and the flags were rippling in a strong south wind. A few hours later, low, dark cumulus clouds covered the sky and sheets of rain pelted the city. Though the precipitation has diminished this afternoon, the flags still signal a strong south wind, a message that the approaching front is still well to our west. Forecast to arrive tomorrow, the front, tied to a potent low, will produce lift and converging winds, setting the stage for thunderstorms.
My view, complemented by the cloth weather vanes, is usually as reliable as a check of the local radar. Over time, one learns to appreciate the signals that nature, herself, provides.
