Aerial photo of an approaching shelf cloud

Aerial photo of an approaching shelf cloud from a small linear storm back in summer 2024

 

A shelf cloud is a low-level, wedge-shaped cloud that forms along the leading edge of a thunderstorm. It signals gusty winds, possibly damaging, are approaching.Shelf clouds form when rain-cooled air from the thunderstorm rushes downward. Warm air is lifted upward to replace the cooler air. The warm air rises, condenses, and forms the shelf cloud.

 

Note in this photo one can identify how the rain cooled air from the very evident dense rain core has rushed out in front of the storm body in the form of this shelf cloud.

 

Everyone has heard of damaging winds in storms, but what do these actually look like in real life? This image says a thousand words and helps to answer this!

 

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