Mystery Aerosol Phenomena frequently misidentified as Tornadoes - Unraveling the Enigma: What Are Scud Clouds?
In Atlanta last Tuesday night, a striking cloud formation caused a stir among residents, with many fearing it was a tornado. The cloud, photographed near the Atlanta Braves baseball stadium, bore a resemblance to a funnel cloud or tornado, but it was later identified as a scud cloud.
Scud clouds, known for their ragged, low-hanging appearance, are often seen beneath larger cloud decks such as nimbostratus, stratiform, or thunderstorm clouds. They result from the condensation of moist air left behind when rain evaporates beneath a storm cloud[1][3][4]. Despite their ominous appearance, scud clouds themselves are not dangerous or harmful. They can, however, indicate that severe weather may be approaching, as they often form in unstable atmospheric conditions before storms or tornadoes[2].
The cloud photographed in Atlanta was a result of warm moist air rising in a thunderstorm updraft, causing the scud cloud to form[5]. Despite its potentially alarming appearance, the lack of rotation was the key indicator that the cloud was not a tornado.
Meteorologist Brad Nitz in Atlanta and James Spann in Birmingham attempted to explain the phenomenon, reassuring the public that the cloud was harmless. The same cloud feature was photographed from multiple perspectives, further emphasising its harmless nature.
So, while scud clouds may look scary, they are merely visual indicators of stormy conditions and pose no direct threat. Understanding these cloud formations can help the public stay informed and better prepared for severe weather.
References: [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scud_cloud [2] https://www.weather.gov/media/saf/scudcloud_factsheet.pdf [3] https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/glossary/t/scud-cloud [4] https://www.weather.gov/media/saf/scudcloud_factsheet.pdf [5] https://www.weather.gov/media/saf/scudcloud_factsheet.pdf
Scud clouds, which are a part of environmental-science, are known for their scary appearance but are not dangerous or harmful. They can indicate that severe weather may be approaching, as they often form in unstable atmospheric conditions before storms or tornadoes like the one James Spann and Brad Nitz were documenting in Atlanta.
