Roll Cloud

[SKIP KILPATRICK]

The other morning there was an unusual (for our area) cloud formation. The weatherman called it a roll cloud. Several people were able to catch it on there cameras and share the photos.


Roll cloud (Cloud Atlas name volutus) is a low, horizontal, tube-shaped, and relatively rare type of arcus cloud. They differ from shelf clouds by being completely detached from other cloud features. Roll clouds usually appear to be "rolling" about a horizontal axis.











I understand that parts of Australia the formation is more common and called a Morning Glory Cloud.

Has anyone else see this formation?

from Australia:

[Ian McColgin]

Way cool.

[birlinn]

Man, those are some chemtrails! :-)

[Flying Orca]

Breathtaking.

[Todd Bradshaw]

I saw one once. We were inflating a hot air balloon in hopes of getting off an early morning flight in kind of marginal weather, as we were paid by the flight, and only by the flight. About the time the thing stood up and within what would normally be about a minute from launching we saw the cloud off in the distance heading our way. You could clearly see the rolling pin action going on. We pulled the rip line, dumped the envelope on the grass and just managed to get everything packed up before it got really gusty and strange. It would have been one heck of a scary ride for as long as it would have lasted. They always say that it's much better to be on the ground wishing you were in the air, than in the air wishing you were on the ground. That day was a perfect example.

[CK 17]

I wonder if the upside of the rotation would support a sailplane?