Another day with Altocumulus clouds, and what else? The usual: aircraft-produced ice canals

They seem to go together every time we have Altocumulus clouds; aircraft flying through them create holes or canals!  Have been photographing this phenomenon since the early 1980s, and I have not seen it so consistently occur every time there was a flake of Altocumulus around as has been the case here this winter!  Its… Continue reading Another day with Altocumulus clouds, and what else? The usual: aircraft-produced ice canals

Sun and Altocumulus clouds combine to provide a colorful sunrise and a sunset on the same day! Rain on tap!

“Rain on tap” does not  refer to a microbrew, for those who’ve accidentally stumbled onto this site. Our nice sunrise and sunset, featuring supercooled1  Altocumulus clouds:       Rain on tap?  Oh, yeah….finally.  One forecaster friend is predicting 0.5 inches!  How nice would that be?  The rain will likely begin toward midnight–check it here… Continue reading Sun and Altocumulus clouds combine to provide a colorful sunrise and a sunset on the same day! Rain on tap!

Intriguing jet stream pattern arises in computer models

First, your sunset for last evening: Brain’s been pretty empty lately, not much to say except “same old same old”, as here. But then some wild computer forecasts came out last evening that were worth mentioning in light of the fires that have plagued southern California. Why? Because they suggest that a belt of tropical… Continue reading Intriguing jet stream pattern arises in computer models

Cirrus uncinus scenes for a lifetime, well, mine, anyway

I hope you had a chance to venture out late yesterday morning and see some of the most spectacular Cirrus (uncinus) displays with HUGE streamers that you will ever see. The early Cirrus cloud were nothing very special, not showing clues about what was to happen a few hours later: But by mid-morning, racing in… Continue reading Cirrus uncinus scenes for a lifetime, well, mine, anyway

A day dominated by cold Altocumulus punctuated by aircraft-produced hole punches and ice canals

Hope you saw them and recorded them in your cloud and weather diary.  I’m thinking that at the next Cloud Maven Junior meeting we should devote a lot of time to this issue.  It was a rare day yesterday that the WHOLE day had that phenomenon occurring as aircraft penetrated those clouds, usually on ascent… Continue reading A day dominated by cold Altocumulus punctuated by aircraft-produced hole punches and ice canals

Looking ahead to May, and something about the new Int. Cloud Atlas

April’s been kind of a weather dud here in Catalina so far (no rain so far, and the chance on the 20th, mentioned here some weeks ago, has receded to Utah and points north), so lets take a look at how May is shaping up, only two weeks ahead: I thought you’d be pretty happy… Continue reading Looking ahead to May, and something about the new Int. Cloud Atlas

More patterns galore, but with natural holes in them that made for an extra fascinating day!

Photos of yesterday’s patterns I could literally hear the cameras clicking all over Catalina and Oro Valley as these patterns showed up, moving in from the southwest as the increasing numbers of cloud-centric folk lost control of themselves.  Reflecting that general loss of control, which affected yours truly, too many photos will be posted here. … Continue reading More patterns galore, but with natural holes in them that made for an extra fascinating day!

Some optical stuff; some holey stuff

Once again we had a brief period of optical fireworks, as a rare “circumzenithal arc” developed overhead of Catalina in some Cirrus strands.  Hope you saw it and bragged about it to your less observant friends.   After saying that, follow it up in a moment of feigned reflection,  speaking to no one in particular, with… Continue reading Some optical stuff; some holey stuff

Yesterday, one of these went over (“the rest of the story”)

First, the background, precursor shot: Then this, looking straight up when CMP first noticed it because he wasn’t paying attention: A few minutes  later, as it moved away: What happened?  How cold were these Altocumulus clouds? (Answers printed upside down below). There were more, off in the distance, too. Here are a few more shots… Continue reading Yesterday, one of these went over (“the rest of the story”)