Interesting Cloud Tendrils Photo, Video

Allergies x

Add New Interest

Jesse Ferrell

Interesting Cloud Tendrils Photo, Video

August 16, 2009; 10:35 PM

UPDATE 6/17/2010: A new photo of cloud tendrils has shown up on the Gallery from Oklahoma.

Local storm chaser Ron "R-Factor" Shawley took these pics at his normal chase spot Chickoree Mountain, PA last Monday (the first is the original, the second is enhanced):

He also took this timelapse video:

Of course, Ron asked what this was exactly but I'm not sure I can answer. The best description I can come up with is "cloud tendrils." It doesn't look like the normal torn, choppy dark scud clouds that you might see rising into a thunderstorm gust front. It is reminiscent of the photos of ocean-effect snow caught in the act from North Carolina last November, but Ron didn't have the kind of temperature contrast that Buz did then. What Ron did have was unusually high dew points for southwest PA - something that, when combined with a gust front, has caused interesting effects before, such as his famous "rolling fog" video (I think you may actually see a tiny bit of rolling fog if you watch closely in the lower left hand corner of his video above).

When I have time I'll upload a radar loop of this event, if I have one. If you have any ideas on what exactly we're seeing here, let us know by leaving a Comment below.

The views expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of AccuWeather, Inc. or AccuWeather.com

Comments

Comments left here should adhere to the AccuWeather.com Community Guidelines. Profanity, personal attacks, and spam will not be tolerated.

More The WeatherMatrix Blog

Google TimeLapse Vs. Outer Banks, Devils Lake

May 15, 2013; 11:09 AM ET

When I saw that Google had created a 30-year satellite time-lapse of Earth, I knew where the most impressive weather-related animations would be.

Ice Needles, Shoves, Surges Terrorize Great Lakes

May 12, 2013; 1:46 PM ET

Whatever you call them -- "Ice Needling," "Ice Surges," or "Ice Shoves," or "Ice Heaves" -- a phenomenon that I first blogged about in 2009 is back -- with a vengeance!

1992: Freak May Snowstorm in North Carolina

May 7, 2013; 11:18 AM ET

17 years ago on this date, while I was taking my freshman exams at UNCA, a "cut-off" low was rumored to dump 57" of snow at nearby Mount Pisgah... but is that reading reliable?

Tornadoes, Severe Storm Stats Down in 2013

May 3, 2013; 12:03 PM ET

Tornado reports and warnings are down for 2013 so far, and the last 12 months, but what about severe-thunderstorm-warned areas and lightning strikes?

Severe Season Starts Early in Pennsylvania

April 25, 2013; 3:09 PM ET

The last two weeks have featured no less than four storm days, one with four storms, here in Central Pennsylvania and I've taken some neat pictures.

10,000 Record Lows, 5,000 Record Snows in 2013

April 23, 2013; 3:07 PM ET

10,167 record lows have fallen so far in 2013, as well as 5,000 snowfall records. How does this compare to this time last year? The Ice Age cometh.