# Ever see the clouds moving against the wind? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 24, 2005, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-see-the-clouds-moving-against-the-wind/323160 "2005-09-24T01:47:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2005, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-see-the-clouds-moving-against-the-wind/323160/1 "2005-09-24T01:47:28Z")
Hello, all. As you’ll see from about half the threads I’ve started the past few weeks if you care to search, I’m working on a novel and consistently bugging people for input. This is another such thread. Brief background: the first half of the novel is an urban fantasy set in the mid-80s. The two protagonists, Andy and Annabelle, are young teens. During the story they see a number of inexplicable events happen before the real magic sets in. I reached the halfway point of the manuscript earlier this week and am going through it now for continuity errors, et cetera. Anyway, to the point of the post: I’m at a point in the story in which the two children are very definitely aware that something strange is happening in their lives. Making a game out of figuring out what, they decide to stake out one of their homes. They meet in the middle of the night to see if a certain magical event Andy witnessed afew weeks earlier, involving a burst of wind, recurs. It does not–but Annabelle notices that the clouds above them are moving west to east, but the breeze disturbing her hair is going in the opposite direction. Now, is that a valid clue? Or have you ever seen the clouds drifting in a direction contrary to that on the ground? Comments appreciated as always. If anybody can point me to a reliable website on meteorology that might settle the issue, I’ll be so grateful I’ll probably [let you on my space ark without having to offer a bribe.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=336153) ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2005, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-see-the-clouds-moving-against-the-wind/323160/2 "2005-09-24T01:51:27Z")
During thunderstorms here, I regularly see all sorts of strange cloud movements. (I have skylights.) During one weird evening earlier when there were tornado watches in effect, I went outside to get a clearer look. The lower level of (broken) clouds were moving perpendicular to the upper level of clouds. Quickly too. Scary, but nothing hit in the immediate area. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2005, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-see-the-clouds-moving-against-the-wind/323160/3 "2005-09-24T02:01:57Z")
The wind up in the upper atmoshpere where clouds are can move in a different direction than the wind we feel at ground level, AFAIK. You might want to think of a different event to be magical. Perhaps a strong breeze, but none of the branches or leaves on the trees are moving? ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2005, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-see-the-clouds-moving-against-the-wind/323160/4 "2005-09-24T02:24:08Z")
I’ve seen exactly that. A strong easterly wind on the ground and the clouds up at about 10,000’ whipping along at a good rate from the west. I flew in those conditions too, it was rough. ---
**Author:** ![Giant\_Spongess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/94ad74/32.png) [@Giant\_Spongess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giant_Spongess)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2005, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-see-the-clouds-moving-against-the-wind/323160/5 "2005-09-24T02:29:32Z")
Yep. I’ve also seen snow come out of a clear blue sky. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2005, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-see-the-clouds-moving-against-the-wind/323160/6 "2005-09-24T02:38:09Z")
> [@bouv](#): > > The wind up in the upper atmoshpere where clouds are can move in a different direction than the wind we feel at ground level, AFAIK. You might want to think of a different event to be magical. Perhaps a strong breeze, but none of the branches or leaves on the trees are moving? that’s the effect I’ve chosen. On either side of the children, they see branches being blown from west to east; they the girl’s hair, in the middle, is being moved in the opposite direction.