Mackerel Sky

Forums: Buttermilk Sky, Mackerel Sky
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It seems I've known what this is all my life. I just used it in conversation and Wally had never heard it. We looked up pictures so I could show him, and he immediately said "That's a buttermilk sky!"

Ok, I buy that, it looks like curdles. In my mind though, a buttermilk sky had been huge fluffy clouds, like biscuits.

I'm wondering if it's a region thing, as I grew up near the ocean.

So what do you call this image below?

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/73/3b/e0/733be0fb0d5da22f118544a6b285d45f.jpg

http://mindthegapless.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/3877831940_7e90bc9183_z.jpg

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Type: Discussion • Score: 8 • Views: 2,526 • Replies: 17

@chai2,

http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20150716-nine-rare-and-beautiful-clouds

Quote:

"Mackerel sky and mares' tails make tall ships carry low sails." So goes an old mariners' rhyme, referring to skies of rippled cirrocumulus clouds that resemble the striped scale pattern of a mackerel.

___

I'm a cloud nerd. I call them cirrocumulus clouds.
Maybe it's from growing up in a community of sailors?

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In England, it is usually informally called it a mackerel sky.

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holy mackerel!

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I knew an artist who was quite taken by the term, he had pictures of fish in the sky all over his studio

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@edgarblythe,

Thanks edgar. I've heard Of that song, but never actual heard it.

Old Mackerel Sky just wouldn't sound right. Smile

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I remember Hoagy and that song - but now, I, a poet and don't know it (old saying) think: Mackerel Sky, Buttermilk Pie.

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Actually, there are even two kind of Mackerel skies

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the view from the pike this afternoon...

https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14440995_10209718303901954_6957488031643162141_n.jpg?oh=db3313d0b501362049d4d4c386b02731&oe=5882D334

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We Krauts say "cotton wood clouds" to that, or "fleecy clouds" -
Schäfchenwolken in German.

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@Region Philbis,

Did you take that? very nice, either way.

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@ossobucotemp,

yup, thanx...

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@chai2,

I just saw a mackerel sky today but didn't know what to call it. Very beautiful.

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https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/15055718_10210138873015919_4675159917171863041_n.jpg?oh=ceb380fc71bb5350a390692fffdc1bc9&oe=58D14192

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@Region Philbis,

Nice picture.

I saw some the day before yesterday, at sunset.

They were all orange and white, like a creamsicle.

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@chai2,

my cousin-in-law took this one today...

https://scontent.fbed1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/15085634_1622234071136121_4744110664120473278_n.jpg?oh=213acce34d7c5a2e00f4c98c80878ddc&oe=5889442E

Mackerel Sky

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