Smells like mackerel, tastes like chicken..

I am obsessed with capturing sun flare in pictures, so at the risk of permanent eye damage, I bring you these pictures.

Last night, over the skies of Southern California, there was a great example of my all time favorite weather phenomenon- The Mackerel Sky. There is something about it…something in the air makes me take deeper breaths and gaze a little longer. I am not sure, but I think there tend to be a lot of Mackerel sky conditions during fall, so maybe fall memories stir up my happy thoughts.

I was a good student, but not a meteorologist, so I won't trick you into thinking that I can ramble off the definition of Mackerel sky without a little refresher, so here goes: “A mackerel sky is an indicator of moisture (the cloud) and instability (the cumulus form) at intermediate levels (2400-6100 m, 8000-20,000 ft). If the lower atmosphere is stable and no moist air moves in, the weather will most likely remain dry. However, moisture at lower levels combined with surface temperature instability can lead to rain showers or thunderstorms should the rising moist air reach this layer. In the winter it is often said to precede snowstorms and flurries. There is an old saying, "Mackerel sky, mackerel sky. Never long wet and never long dry." The phrase 'mackerel sky' came from the fact that it looks similar to the markings of an adult king mackerel.”

Football season is right around the corner. Soon we’ll be at the pumpkin patch with the Carry-on (who, by the way, is probably heavier than the allotted weight a Carry-on can be these days...). It was great to see the stores setting out their Halloween and fall decorations this week! (Oh...we had chicken for dinner.)