Carol DM
Kim Johnson is continuing her Just for Fun Week 2 challenge. The sky is the subject.
I captured this photo today while out for a drive. I had never seen a cloud like this one. This dark grey band was all across the sky, as far as I could see. We are suppose to get rain later. I emailed our local meteorologist to find out what the technical name for the cloud was. She responded and said it looked like a shelf cloud. A shelf cloud is a low-hanging, well defined, wedge shaped formation that occurs along the leading edge of a gust front in a thunderstorm. Shelf clouds most often form just ahead of intense lines of thunderstorms.
This makes complete sense due to the weather forecast of rain. Just sharing something different! Remember to always look up when you are outside. You never know what you might see.
I didn’t think I commented on this one so I down-voted by accident, then had to upvote it again lol
This is indeed unique and different, as far as I recall, I have also never seen anything like this.
This one was not from my deck either Albert. I stopped the car to take it. 🙂
In addition to your deck, your car is also magical, let alone yourself!
Too kind Albert, thank you! I just try to keep my eyes wide open everywhere I go!
Good observers always get the best!
Magical clouds! Excellent capture, Carol!
That is what I call them too Ellie, thanks!
Shelf clouds, god spots, sun dogs, I like this world! X/!
I kind of feel the same. 🙂
I visit every chance I get, Tethys is just so,..colorless…
That is a cool cloud….great shot! 🙂
Thanks, I could not resist this photo.
Awesome capture! It looks like a wave … Only its on the sky.
It really did. And it was as far as I could see in both directions.
Whatever the name of this cloud does not matter. What you captured as a photo is fantastic.
Thank you Elenka, I agree with you!
Awe I love this photograph and cool cloud formation. I would beg to differ with you meteorologist. I know this sounds odd, but I have studied this in depth. What you caught was called a roll cloud. The roll cloud and the shelf could are both Arcus Clouds, the difference is, is that a roll cloud is detached from the main storm like the one you have shown, and the roll cloud is detached from the main storm. See how the cloud gets lighter at the back of the storm? It is detached. Love the photo and thank you for posting.
Boy, I sort of messed that comment up. Let’s try again. I would beg to differ with youR weather person. I know it sounds odd to argue with a pro, but I have studied these patterns and maybe they didn’t look at the photo well. Who knows. This is a roll cloud, not a shelf cloud. Both are Arcus Cloud patterns. The shelf cloud is attached to the main storm while the roll cloud is detached.
I also researched this after getting her email and found the difference in a shelf and roll and this is what I found… A shelf cloud, also known as an arcus or arc cloud, may be the most frequently submitted cloud photo to our weather.com photo gallery and Facebook page. Based on their appearance, we certainly understand why. A more rare variety of this type of cloud, a roll cloud, resembles a giant rolling pin in the sky. The first two photos in the slideshow from Lake Hendricks, Minnesota, on June 20, 2015, show a terrific example of a roll cloud. To understand how roll clouds form, we first must explain how shelf clouds develop. Shelf clouds are typically seen at the leading edge of a thunderstorm or squall line of thunderstorms. While menacing in appearance, shelf clouds are not tornadoes or wall clouds.
Thanks Kim for commenting!
And I thought a shelf and wall was the same. I love clouds. I know wall clouds do produce tornadoes. : D
I search for the sky everytime I go out of the house and especially when I am on the beach. But I suppose looking up should not be done while crossing the street, right? ?? Just teasing — interesting trivia — maybe the shelf cloud is where the rainwater are shelved? ?
Just be careful when you look up. 🙂
Hahahahaha yeah — beautiful photo btw
Thank you very much. 🙂
Lovely view of the clouds, amazing combination
Thanks Pamela, it was really cool to see.
Thank you for sharing the post about the clouds.
And I thank you for visiting and commenting.
Love how you captured the picture. Love it!
Thanks LaJenna, there was so much more but I couldn’t get it all.
Cloud formations leave so much up to the imagination.
Yes they do and I enjoy watching them.
Is that the technical term for this phenomenon?
I am still asking other meteorologists to confirm, I think there is more to it that that. But shelf cloud is what my local meteorologist told me.
Damn cool name. Angels keep their books there…
Oh man I love that thought! Thanks Alex. 🙂
Think nothing of it, or as we say in my neck of the woods- De nada…