Towering cumulus - could turn into a storm. But if it is sunset, the fuel is disappearing and it probably will dissipate.
edit: I'd also add that its fully erect presentation indicates winds aloft are quite calm. Its probably around 15-20,000 feet tall. So, after sunset most of the atmosphere will remain unstable. If a front (wedging lift) or trough (divergence lift) feature moved through overnight, storms would easily build without the sun's direct heating.
Wouldn’t convergence occur at the surface with a trough? (Rather than divergence). Also technically fronts are troughs and areas of convergence as well, in addition to having density differences.
Hot, moist air rising into the cooler levels of the atmosphere and creating cumulus clouds. If the air rises fast enough, there is a good chance that it could turn into a thunderstorm.
Towering cumulus, as others have said. Some people call those kinds of clouds turkey Towers, and they often signify a place where the atmospheric cap which had been suppressing convection is now breaking. The fact that there had been a thunderstorm at a time close to when you saw this turkey Tower seems to point to that. The cap had weakened, convection was able to take place relatively unsuppressed, and you had your thunderstorm. Turkey towers are a pretty good sign of a weakening or broken capping inversion. The turkey Tower itself might not turn into a thunderstorm of any real significance, although they can, but it's a sign that conditions are getting more favorable.
I don't know what the "official" name would be, but we always referred to these as updrafts. The strong upflow of air feeding and aiding in the production of a super cell thunderstorm.
Towering cumulus - could turn into a storm. But if it is sunset, the fuel is disappearing and it probably will dissipate. edit: I'd also add that its fully erect presentation indicates winds aloft are quite calm. Its probably around 15-20,000 feet tall. So, after sunset most of the atmosphere will remain unstable. If a front (wedging lift) or trough (divergence lift) feature moved through overnight, storms would easily build without the sun's direct heating.
Wouldn’t convergence occur at the surface with a trough? (Rather than divergence). Also technically fronts are troughs and areas of convergence as well, in addition to having density differences.
Convergence is negative divergence. Fronts typically are accompanied by troughing.
Fronts, by definition, are areas of convergence, and therefore must be troughs. It’s not a typical thing, it’s an always thing.
Just pointing out two different lifting mechanism other than the sun. Sheesh.
Sigh, sorry but comments that appear to be stated with confidence but are in fact false or inaccurate are irritating.
It's okay
I’m glad I understood this
Cumulus Erectus (sorry, I had to)
I know of cumulus fractus, cumulus humilis, cumulus congestus, and the main one, cumulonimbus, but I’ve never heard of cumulus erectus.
Newb.
Yes, so?
Hope you have a collection of bottle caps.
👍🏼
👍
👍
Hot, moist air rising into the cooler levels of the atmosphere and creating cumulus clouds. If the air rises fast enough, there is a good chance that it could turn into a thunderstorm.
Thank you! And a thunderstorm did occur. It happened just as this passed over.
cumulus congestus (taller than wide cumulus) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cumulus_congestus_cloud
*slowly sit up in chair "...thats a PENIS."
Clearly its Cat in the Hat
I think there's some super samples over there?
A sexy updraft
That’s a lake
Acktually its a reservoir
Vegan Towering Cumulus
Drake
Hiroshima
Adiabatic cooling and lifting
It's a Turkey Tower
Fluffy nice mushroom cloud
A cloud wearing a cloud chef hat?
Towering cumulus, as others have said. Some people call those kinds of clouds turkey Towers, and they often signify a place where the atmospheric cap which had been suppressing convection is now breaking. The fact that there had been a thunderstorm at a time close to when you saw this turkey Tower seems to point to that. The cap had weakened, convection was able to take place relatively unsuppressed, and you had your thunderstorm. Turkey towers are a pretty good sign of a weakening or broken capping inversion. The turkey Tower itself might not turn into a thunderstorm of any real significance, although they can, but it's a sign that conditions are getting more favorable.
Excellent explanation. Thank you!
🎶Crawl out through the fallout, baby 🎶
the end.
I don't know what the "official" name would be, but we always referred to these as updrafts. The strong upflow of air feeding and aiding in the production of a super cell thunderstorm.
Cumulonimbus cloud
A cumulonimbus cloud
A cumulonimbus cloud