![]() One of the best examples of this type of cloud is in the picture above, taken by Waldo Jaquith in Cape Hatteras, NC in May 2012. Shelf clouds most often form just ahead of intense lines of thunderstorms. Ominous Summer Thunderstorm Strikes Sydney, AustraliaĪn intimidating looking thunderstorm rolled across Sydney, Australia yesterday afternoon, bringing… What are they?Ī shelf cloud is a low-hanging, well-defined, wedge-shaped formation that occurs along the leading edge of a gust front in a thunderstorm. Another one occurred just two days later in the skies over Florida as an intense line of thunderstorms moved across the state. The incredible shelf cloud over Sydney was probably one of the most photographed weather events of 2014, as the striking formation enveloped the Sydney skyline before bringing torrential rain and intense lightning. ![]() This past week, two shelf clouds caught the attention of both social media and international news. Other than for their incredible beauty, shelf clouds are usually newsworthy because they tend to freak people out. But do it quickly! Dangerous winds, frequent lightning, and very heavy rain almost always immediately follow the passage of the “shelf”.Shelf clouds are a stunning feature of many spring and summertime thunderstorms that often pack more bark than bite. So the next time you see a shelf cloud, you’ll certainly want to grab your camera. As the storm weakens, the shelf cloud can even become detached from the parent cloud. The adjoining upward and downward motions that make up a shelf cloud can sometimes give the appearance of carpet being rolled out across the sky. These are usually illuminated by sunlight or translucent rain-free clouds prior to the storm arriving. ![]() This condensation process creates brighter clouds on the edge (or top) of the shelf. So it is naturally pulled back up into the storm on the front side of the shelf. Now, think about where the relatively calm air in front of the storm must go. This is what creates the dark colors on the underneath side of the “shelf”. The intense downward motion (called a downdraft) spreads out over land, often creating destructive wind gusts up to 60 or 70 mph. This is why it rains so hard when the storm is overhead. As the storm matures, what goes up must come down. And here’s how.Ī cumulonimbus cloud is created by violent upward motion in the atmosphere. However, the shelf cloud forms from a mature cluster or line of storms. The wall cloud is much smaller and more compact than a shelf cloud and is usually under a rain free cloud base,” they add.īoth cloud types are created by adjoining air masses moving in opposite directions. “ wall clouds will rotate on a vertical axis, sometimes strongly. It may appear to rotate on a horizontal axis,” the NWS said. “A shelf cloud will usually be associated with a solid line of storms. Shelf clouds are often falsely reported as wall clouds or funnel clouds, but the National Weather Service (NWS) in Louisville clarifies. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) refers to a shelf cloud as an “accessory” to a parent cumulonimbus cloud. But there are also some misperceptions about them we can clear up. And it’s usually a good idea to head indoors when you see one. earlier ( timelapse) #dcwx /GqwT1DChaQ- Jesse Ferrell (AccuWeather) JWhat are Shelf Clouds and How They FormĪ shelf cloud certainly looks scary. Jaw-dropping timelapse of the mothership storm moving over Washington, D.C.
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