High cold ones, and lots of patterns in a complex sky

In particular, those Altocumulus clouds, “cold” Cirrocumulus (ones that transform to ice immediately),  and those “Altocumulocirrus” clouds combining  with  scenes of “regular” cirriform clouds.  Lots of interesting sights to have seen yesterday.  All these the result of marginal moisture aloft and strong winds, up around 100 mph at the highest Cirrus levels. Let us begin… Continue reading High cold ones, and lots of patterns in a complex sky

Iridescence, jet streak Cirrus warn of overnight “middlin'” storm

I guess “billows” (“undulatus” in cloudspeak) two days ago in the late afternoon wasn’t enough of a sign that the weather was changing. Yesterday we had fast moving Cirrocumulus with rainbows in it, and as the sun was setting, “jet streak Cirrus”, a line of Cirrus clouds often seen in the very core of high… Continue reading Iridescence, jet streak Cirrus warn of overnight “middlin’” storm

Cirrus enigma; medium-sized Cumulus clouds snow away

First, you should always begin your day, not with the breakfast of champions, but by reviewing the prior day’s clouds in the University of Arizona time lapse movie.    Here’s what you will see: Lots of Cirrus, varies species, Altocumulus, Cirrocumulus, a high temperature contrail go through some Cirrocumulus just after 4 PM, and flocks of… Continue reading Cirrus enigma; medium-sized Cumulus clouds snow away

A nice cloud yesterday, not a great cloud yesterday; dramatic day ahead

The clouds were somewhat of a disappointment yesterday, not the stupendous photogenic day CM was expecting. Maybe CM is total fraud, gets Big Oil funding and should be investigated by Rep. Grijalva as other weather folk are,   like the great Prof. and National Academy of Sciences Fellow,  Dr. Judy Curry,  a friend, and about… Continue reading A nice cloud yesterday, not a great cloud yesterday; dramatic day ahead

Not to worry; plenty of model rain still ahead in models

1While several inches of model2 rain has occurred in Catalina and in the nearby mountains this month, most of which cloud-maven person has festooned his blog with model panels of, there really hasn’t been any ACTUAL rain. But having said that, there is even MORE model rain ahead, some beginning tomorrow in these parts.  Tomorrow’s… Continue reading Not to worry; plenty of model rain still ahead in models

Phenomenological extravaganza

First you had the rarely seen “Aircraft Produced Ice Particles” (APIPs, or “High Temperature Aircraft Contrails” (HTACs) in supercooled Altocumulus in the afternoon.  Contrails were being produced in clouds that were “only” -20 C to -30 C (-4 to -22 F) and aircraft contrails were thought to be impossible at those temperatures, but rather, only… Continue reading Phenomenological extravaganza

Yesterday’s clouds, dust, and smoke; virga ahead

It was zero visibility in Parhrump, Nevada, yesterday afternoon with wind gusts to 85 mph, as the cold front was about to crash on by.   I guess we were lucky to only have 40-50 mph puffs of wind here in Catalinaland overnight, and not so much dust (yet).  A sharp, but dry cold front… Continue reading Yesterday’s clouds, dust, and smoke; virga ahead

Some iridescence with your clouds? And a photo comparison of our current droughty conditions compared to last April’s green

Yes, we had some yesterday evening in those Altocumulus lenticularis clouds or just “clouds” for most of you.  This delicate “rainbow” coloring in last evening’s clouds is due to the diffraction of light around really small cloud droplets, ones that have just formed, a few microns to 1o microns or so in diameter.  Because the… Continue reading Some iridescence with your clouds? And a photo comparison of our current droughty conditions compared to last April’s green