A CLICHE CLINCHED

Is there scientific validity to the saying 'Red sky at night, sailors' delight; red sky in the morning sailors take warning'? H. Richardson (Joe Sienkiewicz, June 23, 2003, Scientific American)

Indeed, there is scientific validity to the adage, "red sky at night sailors? delight; red sky in the morning sailors take warning." This saying has very old roots. In the bible (Matthew 16:2-3), the following quote is attributed to Jesus: "When it is evening, ye say, fair weather: for the heaven is red. And in the morning, foul weather today for the heaven is red and lowering." There are also versions of this saying that refer to shepherds instead of sailors.

Two factors contribute to the cogency of this saying. The first is that weather systems generally travel from west to east in the mid latitudes. Because the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, a rising sun in advance of an approaching weather system would illuminate the approaching mid- and high-level clouds to create a red sky in the morning. Alternatively, if the sun is setting as a weather system exits and high pressure is building, then the departing clouds would be illuminated. This would create a red sky at night with fair weather to follow.

Posted by Orrin Judd at June 24, 2003 2:45 PM