If the bureau forecast rain, often there wasn't a cloud in the sky and we cooked. But is it any better?

Given the ridicule we heap on forecasters for getting predictions wrong, it's perhaps unsurprising that the language they use is extremely vague.

For example, take last Monday's forecast for Orange: 'Late shower or two, possible rainfall 3 to 8mm. Chance of any rain 70 per cent.' That was later changed to 'rain at times...' There was no rain Monday but it began 4am Tuesday and we had 18.9mm to 9am, a great result even though the prediction was inaccurate.

Tuesday's forecast was: 'Cloudy. Possible rainfall 8 to 15mm. Chance of any rain 90 per cent.' That was later changed to 'showers, chance of a thunderstorm in the morning. Possible rainfall 6 to 15mm.' We had 2mm. No thunderstorm.

Tomorrow will be 'partly cloudy with chance of rain 5 per cent.' We'll see what happens. Predictions like 'possible storm', 'shower or two clearing' or 'rain at times' cover all eventualities.

But with the use of satellites and computer-based models the bureau's forecasts are still more accurate than what they used to be.

Remember when we depended on granny predicting rain was on the way if there was a ring around the moon, if birds were flying close to the ground or if white clouds looked like a cauliflower or billowy cotton.

But of more concern now is to look to the clouds for an indication of rain we desperately need to break the devastating drought. You could expect some drizzle from Stratocumulus, a low cloud that looks like a series of white rolls, while Cumulus are low clouds that could also bring rain showers.

The one we want to see is Nimbostratus, a thicker and darker low cloud that could result in heavy rain.

But really, the only foolproof method is to just go outside to see if it's raining or the sun is shining. That way you'll know for sure what's happening.

A few years back Orange City Council took an unusual pacifist stand and put up signs on the entrances to Orange declaring us a Nuclear Free City.

That, of course, was despite the fact the Base Hospital had a nuclear medicine unit.

The then alderman Borrie Gartrell, who proposed the signs, said it was meant to be a symbolic move.

That aside, Orange now has safe and non-invasive nuclear medicine services available that involves giving small doses of radiation to patients to detect a wide range of conditions.

So much for being nuclear free.

More recently in another 'symbolic move' the council declared us a coal seam gas mining-free city but didn't put up any signs probably because there's no coal anywhere near us or because the State Government has the say anyway in issuing mining exploration licences.

In the latest move Stephen Nugent tried to convince the council to declare a 'climate emergency' but unlike the nuclear and coal seam mining 'bans' it didn't get to first base and was quickly shown the door.

Can we assume, then, while maybe meant to be another symbolic move, this time councillors weren't having a bar of it?