The Weather Handbook

by Alan Watts

This is the perfect book for anyone who finds general weather forecasts frustrating because they don't give sufficient local detail. It answers such questions Is it likely to rain, be sunny or windy? Will it be a good day at the beach? Should I take an umbrella to work? Will there be plenty of wind for sailing? Should I water the lawn? Alan Watts, the acclaimed author of the bestselling Instant Weather Forecasting, explains in straightforward terms how to look at the sky and interpret what the clouds indicate about the coming weather. He explains how to combine information given in weather forecasts with the readers own observations to arrive at a correct assessment of what the coming weather is likely to be.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, Nature, Reference

Paperback

First published August 1, 1994

Reviews

[Lindsey · Rating 1 out of 5]

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.

[Bill Buckley · Rating 3 out of 5]

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

[Maggie Gallagher · Rating 3 out of 5]

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

[Les · Rating 2 out of 5]

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.