Shelf Cloud over Green Bay and the Fox Valley
A thunderstorm with a photogenic shelf cloud (also known as an arcus cloud)
moved across Waupaca and Outagamie counties into Brown county during the evening
of June 13, 2004.
A shelf cloud develops ahead of the thunderstorm as dense, rain cooled air cuts
underneath the warm, moist air ahead of the storm. Although its appearance
is threatening, and almost always precedes gusty winds, the cloud is not
necessarily a precursor to severe weather.
The Camera's View
(Click images for larger view)
The Radar's View
(Click images for larger view)
Base reflectivity (0.5 deg elevation) at 7:59 pm. Note gust front at the leading (southeast) edge of storm. |
This page was developed by Jeff Last (jeff.last@noaa.gov), Warning Coordination Meteorologist, NWS Green Bay.