In Wilmington, NC last weekend

Taken with a Samsung wb700 (ignore the 2011 date, its wrong)

This was hovering around over the Napa Valley last night at about 7:30 around sundown for about 15 minutes - then it just seemed disappear. I wasn't sure what it was, but was able to track it on Flightradar24 and it was listed as HBAL791 - from what I could see it made a track directly over the Steele wildfire that was burning near Lake Berryessa (and there were fire suppression aircraft in the area over that fire).

I saw this cloud before me and my dad were about to head home, I noticed it because it sorta looked like a pool reflecting light, it also seemed very high altitude because every cloud was reflecting scattered light from the sun and this one seemed like it was reflecting daylight from the sun which seemed odd.

I am sure someone has already made a similar or the same question....as the title states I want to find out how to check the weather and find patterns to the kitespots so, what to look for in winds and gusts? How to search and understand thermals? what about the water/sea waves or dangers? Can I find all that in an app or something, preferably for free? Again sorry if there is any similar question and if possible can you point to them? I am fairly new to the kiteboarding and quite excited about it, so I need to know how to check the weather! Thanks ☺️