OBSERVATIONS AND PREDICTIONS OF THE WEATHER 77 



8. Why are cyclones called lows? 



9. Why are anticyclones called highs? 



10. Why does a kite remain in the air? 



OBSERVATIONS AND PREDICTIONS OF THE WEATHER 



Weather Signals. The following weather signals are used by the 

 United States Weather Bureau, Department of Agriculture. 



A white flag, 72 inches by 72 inches, alone, indicates fair weather. 



A blue flag, 72 inches by 72 inches, alone, indicates rain or snow. 



A blue and white flag (white part 72 inches by 36 inches, blue 

 part 72 inches by 36 inches) indicates local rain or snow. 



A white flag with a black center (white part 72 inches by 72 

 inches, black part in center 24 inches by 24 inches) indicates cold 

 wave. 



A black triangular flag, 45 inches at the base and 72 inches long, 

 is used to denote temperature. 



A white flag, with a black triangular flag above it, indicates 

 fair and warmer. 



A white flag, with a black triangular flag below it, indicates 

 fair and colder. 



A blue flag, with a black triangular flag above it, indicates rain 

 or snow, and warmer. 



A blue flag, with a black triangular flag below it, indicates rain 

 or snow, and colder. 



A blue and white flag, with a triangular black flag above it, 

 indicates local rain or snow, and warmer. 



A blue and white flag, with a triangula'r black flag below it, 

 indicates local rain or snow, and colder. 



The following signal flags are used for small craft, storm and hurri- 

 cane warnings. 



Small Craft Warning. A red pennant indicates that moderately 

 strong winds are expected. 



Storm Warning. A red flag with a black center indicates that 

 a storm of marked violence is expected. 



The pennants displayed with the flags indicate the direction of 

 the wind: white, westerly (from southwest to north); red, easterly 

 (from northeast to south). The pennant above the flag indicates 



