Shelf Cloud : Recently Appeared In Uttarakhand’s Haridwar
A terrifying shelf cloud recently appeared in Uttarakhand’s Haridwar.
- A “shelf cloud” or “Arcus cloud” generally forms along the leading edge of thunderstorms.
- It is a type of low-lying, horizontal cloud formation characterized by a clearly defined line of solid clouds.
- It is known for its distinctive wedge-shaped formation. They usually appear as a broad arc across the sky that can sometimes appear to be rotating horizontally.
- Shelf clouds form when cold and dense air is forced into a warmer air mass by wind.
- This rush of cold air often occurs in a thunderstorm’s downdraught, where cold air rushes towards the ground before spreading out to create a gust front.
- Shelf clouds produced by thunderstorms are always preceded by a rush of dry and cold air ahead of the cloud, with rain arriving after the shelf cloud has passed overhead.
