If You See Green Storm Clouds, Prepare for the Worst.
See those green billowing thunderclouds over there? This is bad. Not because you will be carried away to some annoying musical world – no, because these clouds mean that the storm is especially unpleasant and dangerous. It could even mean a tornado is approaching.
Green clouds have long been considered a signal of an impending tornado or hail by people living inTornado Alley , a large area of the United States that spans northern Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska and other areas. Traditional folk wisdom says that the ominous color of the clouds comes from all the frogs and grasshoppers that are pulled into the sky by the tornado. What sarcasm! (The crickets chirp .) But don’t worry, frog and grasshopper lovers, this is clearly not what is happening with these terrible giants of water vapor.
So why green?YouTuber and storm hunter Pecos Hank explains that it all boils down to the spectrum of colors and how objects absorb and reflect sunlight:
Some of the most severe thunderstorms can cause heavy rainfall and hail, similar to waterfalls. The storm hunters call this the “core.” Occasionally, storm clouds disperse, giving you a glimpse into the core above. If you are under a storm base, around noon the core is often bluish or gorgeous turquoise. But closer to noon and evening, when the storm is most active, the angular golden and reddish light of the sunset can mix with the blue precipitation core, resulting in a greenish color. Yellow and blue give green!
William Beasley , professor of meteorology at the University of Oklahoma, agrees. He explains to Scientific American that it boils down to the moisture particles found in these afternoon thunderclouds . They absorb red light and make the stray light appear blue. When exposed against bright red ambient light, such as low sun during golden hour or sunset, the net effect is a kind of greenish color. But here’s the thing: According to physicist Craig Boran of Pennsylvania State University, green thunderclouds don’t necessarily mean a tornado or hail is coming. Typically, hail or tornadoes can occur with or without green clouds . This is why it is so important to be prepared for such events, and not rely only on what you see.
However, green clouds are a pretty good predictor of severe thunderstorms in general. Green clouds are often high clouds, says Scott Bachmeier , a meteorologist at the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Research at UW-Madison, and high clouds are a major component of potential hailstorms and tornadoes. So, while green does not mean a tornado is coming, it does mean that a tornado may be coming. Whatever happens, the weather is going to be harsh, friend. If you want to avoid heavy rain, high winds and lightning, a green sky is still a good warning sign to pack and avoid dodging. If you see green clouds approaching you during the day, it’s time to leave the area, or at least go inside, where you can easily follow through with your emergency plan if needed. And if you don’t already have an emergency plan, you should draw up one .