The Weather Handbook: The Essential Guide to How Weather is Formed and Develops

by Alan Watts

Watts explains how to accurately predict weather patterns through common-sense observations of clouds and wind and readings of weather maps. An invaluable resource for hikers, boaters, fishermen, and farmers. 70 color photos and illustrations.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, Nature, Reference

161 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 1994

Reviews

[Lindsey]

I took a Meteorology course in college and it has been about 10 years, so I've lost some of the basics. So I want my "essential" weather guide to tell me about the basics. This book starts off decently with clouds, although some things were missing right off. My problem really begins on page 30, when the author never describes cyclonic and anticyclonic anywhere (I have a basic understanding of them still but come on), and throws isobars at you, without ever telling you ANYTHING about isobars, or much of anything about troughs or ridges. Nothing is really explained, so when the author begins talking about isobars bending, nothing really makes any sense, there are no pieces to put together. Perhaps I should just pull out my textbook from long ago to re-learn everything.

[Mark]

The author appears to have a disorganised mind. Presenting details before the bigger picture, diagrams that are structured in an illogical order and very poor and disjointed flow from one paragraph to the next.

Shockingly disappointing and frustrated to read.

And that’s on a second reading after filing in DNF some years ago.

[Bill Buckley]

A lot of technical data but really interesting. Weather forecasting is a combination of computers, satellites and human effort.

[Maggie Gallagher]

A little more technical than I wanted, but still cool. Beautiful pictures, too.

[Les]

I enjoyed the book, but it was technical and I would have to read it through several more times to get it to sink in.