The backshear is a protrusion of a multicell thunderhead's anvil "backward" into and against the upper level winds, which were blowing from the left (SW) in this case. The stronger the flow, the more powerful the updraft needed to shove cloud material against that wind. Also, a big "knuckle"—common storm-enthusiast slang for upside-down moist convective towers—can be seen next to the notch, … [Read more...]
Subtropical Cb
Snowy egrets foraged in the shallow waters of the passage between Pine Island, Ft. Myers and Sanibel. They ignored the soft, brilliantly sunlit cumulonimbus in the northern sky, the occasional distant rumble of thunder, a shoreline fisherman and photographer trying to frame them with the storm, and the presence of passing boats on the nearby Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. Food was their objective, … [Read more...]
Final Brick-Red Rays
This is one of my very favorite sunset scenarios: the minute or so when a textured, midlevel cloud deck can catch the reddest final rays of direct sunlight at that level, layered beneath slate-colored clouds in shadow, while still-higher cirrus basks in more yellow-orange hues, all floating through deepening twilight blue. Everything in the photo above ground level is just gas and condensed … [Read more...]
Pond-Mirrored Sunrise Tree
Chill, still water of a local pond mirrored a marvelous wintertime sunrise, in a moment ideally suited for thoughtful as well as visual reflections. I typically see sunrises only after being awake all night, and this one was a fitting conclusion to my "day".Norman, OK (30 Jan 15) Looking ESE 35.2079, -97.3767 … [Read more...]
Electric Scene
Remarkably smooth, non-forked, laminar lightning discharges dissipated some storm-induced ground current into the sky on a northwest Oklahoma evening, while mostly hidden in-cloud flashes brightened the landscape nearly to levels of heavily overcast daylight. One must be careful near electric lines, in and near thunderstorms, as even a somewhat-distant strike to the same set of wires may result … [Read more...]
Watch Verifier
After having a very hard time finding a good view of this fine young supercell in the hilly Western Crosstimbers country, Steve Corfidi and I pulled up an open-gated driveway toward a hilltop house with people watching the storm, to ask if we could use their high vantage. Not only could we, but the residents welcomed us with cold drinks and standing room in their west-facing garage, while we all … [Read more...]
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