DIY web site Instructables details how to predict the weather by glancing at the sky and—more specifically—the clouds.

Being able to predict the weather by observing cloud formations is a skill that is somewhat lost on us modern humans. Most of us can easily look at a cloud and see the unicorn or ice cream cones, but very few of us can look at clouds and see the approaching cold front.

The post focuses on first highlighting and identifying different cloud formations and what they mean to the weather, then describes how to put that information to use. You may not be able to out-forecast your local weatherperson off the bat, but a better knowledge of the clouds and climate can't hurt. While you're at it, check out a few other methods (like smell) of predicting the weather without checking the forecast.

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US-centric: Google Maps has joined forces with The Weather Channel to offer a new My Maps overlay of current weather conditions and forecasts. Just head to Google Maps, click the My Maps tab, and select The Weather Channel from... Read More »

Whether you're trying to keep warm or dull aches and pains, a heating pad can offer some soothing relief. Before you head to the store, open your dresser and cupboard, and you might find everything you need to make one yourself. All it takes is two pieces of cloth (or an old sock), any of a number of grains such as rice, oatmeal, or flax seed, and a tiny bit of sewing or cutting. The TipNut blog includes a number of ingredients you can throw in to make your DIY heating pad into a headache reliever or a fragrant relaxing helper. For someone just getting into the shoveling routine again, this sounds worth having on hand.

The recent Google Earth update introduced lots of new layers, but one extremely useful layer that passed under our radar (as it were) at first glance was the addition of a new weather layer. The layer includes radar information, current conditions, and forecasts pulled every 15 minutes from Weather.com and a cloud layer that updates hourly from the Naval Research Laboratory. So if you're already obsessed with Google Earth for its stargazing and live flight tracking features, now you've got one more use for the freeware, cross-platform atlas.

Get your home ready for potentially damaging winter storms with eHow's detailed guide. Tips include rounding up outdoor furniture and items that might fly around in high winds, having a supply of flashlights and candles on hand, and stocking up on emergency foodstuffs. What's your best tip for preparing for a big 'un? Thoughts in the comments.