After spending a number of years using flying simulators, and having to set-up, and observe, various weather conditions before and during flight, that when outside, I now spend a lot of time reading the sky above me, cloud formations, wind direction, temperature, humidity, etc... 8)...!
A fascinating subject which seems to be completely lost upon other people around me... ...!
A look at the sky will reveal some amazing, ever changing, cloud formations, and it is interesting to try to identify the various types of clouds.... 8)...!

Has anyone else suddenly found an interest in "Weather" since using Microsoft flight simulators...?

Cheers all... ...!
Paul.
(England).

P.S. I have been returned to my feet a number of times by passers-by, after being observed lying flat on my back looking up at the sky*.... ....!
LOL...LOL...LOL...!

*..and that was nothing to do with consuming an excessive quantity of intoxicating liquid.... ....!
LOL...LOL...LOL...!

Summer Wx in south Florida can be very dynamic, to say the least. I think we have a lot more convective(thunderstorm) Wx than you have over there Fozzer. I can, without a doubt, say that you are not alone. I used to work line service with a shift of 5 other guys. During summer afternoons, we would wait for the thunderstorms, as a group, to roll in, right on schedule. It's amazing to watch a cumulus buildup so big, that you can see the movement of the top billowing 4-5miles above your head. We we're all student pilots, and quickly learned things like, mares tails at high altitude overhead, indicated a coming cold front. I made the mistake early on, of trying to impress my family with my newly learned Wx knowledge, now they always expect me to FORECAST the Wx. 

...and a bit more info...
*********************************************
Cloud Systems:

Stratus:               layer cloud, which extend more horizontal than vertical.
Cumulous:          heaped cloud, with vertical development.
Cirrus:                 threadlike clouds.
Nimbus:              rain bearing.

Three altitude levels:
Low Level:         up to 8000 feet.
Medium Level:  prefix "ALTO" next 10,000 to 12.000 feet.
High Level:        overlapping medium level but extending further up to the troposphere.
                            uses the word cirrus, Prefix "CIRRO" indicating high level clouds.

Cloud Levels:
Low Level:          Stratus. Stratocumulous. Nimbostratus.
Medium Level.   Altostratus. Nimbostratus. Altocumulous  Castallanus. Altocumulous Mammatus
High Level:         Cirrus. Cirrostratus or Cirrocumulous.
*********************************************
...keep well clear of these in your Tiger Moth... .....Cumulous:  heaped cloud, with vertical development
LOL...LOL...LOL...!

Cheers all... ...!
Paul.
(England)...Temperate climate... 8)...!

Quote:


Hi Mark ...!
Definately a biker skill.... ...!
Towering, heaped, Cumulonimbus at low level, and rapidly lowering pressure, means it's going to p*ss down with rain very soon, so don't get the bike/plane out... ...!
LOL...LOL...LOL...!

...stay indoors and have a nice cup of tea instead... 8)...!
LOL...!

Cheers mate... ...!
Paul.
(England).

It's quite amazing that in a small, General Aviation, aircraft, you have to be so careful to observe the weather in your locality, and the weather during your route, and the weather in your intended destination.... ....!
So many pilots die, failing to observe these simple observations....!
If you are not happy, then stay on the ground... ...!
Low Cloud/Fog is a killer... ...!

Cheers all.... ...!
Paul.
(England).

P.S. I notice that the GA aircraft at my local airfield stay grounded if the weather looks at all "dodgy".... ...!

Quote:

Yup, but alas in a minority of one

Quote:


Hi Paz... ...!
Very interesting mate... 8)...!
My County of Herefordshire lies to the east of the Welsh mountain range known as the "Black Mountains".
As the prevailing rain-bearing winds arrive from the west, the wind forces the clouds higher over the mountains, which then generally fall out as rain before they reach us.
Not so good for the people who live close to the "down-wind" side of the mountains.... ...!

This results in a "temperate" climate for us Herefordians... 8)...!

Cheers mate... ...!
Paul,
(Herefordshire. England).

Quote:


Hello Dave.... ...!
Actually, those towering white puffy Cumulus clouds are aviators worst nightmare, and to be avoided at all costs.... ...!
The billowing, (and the anvil at the top), is caused by VERY strong up-draught winds, rain, and ice crystals, and will cause serious structual damage to small, (and big), aircraft.... ...!
If you spot one of them in front of you, take immediate avoiding action and definately don't fly beneath them... ...!

...beware of pretty clouds...LOL...LOL...LOL...!

Cheers Dave... ...!
Paul.
(England).