Reading Weather Clouds on an Exposed Ridge

Above treeline, the weather forecast stops mattering and the sky takes over. Clouds tell you what is coming in the next hour, and that warning is worth more than any app.

Learn the three clouds that matter most.

• Towering cumulus by noon means thunderstorms by afternoon
• A thickening flat gray deck signals hours of steady rain
• Lenticular lens clouds mean high wind is already aloft

Turn around when the clouds start climbing. The ridge will still be there tomorrow, and the sky is giving you the exit sign before it gets serious.

Keep an eye on the cloud base every half hour, not just at the start. Storms build fast in the afternoon, and the sky changes before your legs do.