Below is a brief review of what a shelf cloud, wall cloud, and funnel cloud look like. Remember, that the main threat with any squall line is severe damaging winds associated with the shelf cloud, although brief spin-up tornadoes can occur.
Oftentimes, these tornadoes are rain-wrapped and short-lived. A shelf cloud will usually be associated with a solid line of storms. The wind will come first with rain following behind it. It may appear to rotate on a horizontal axis. A wall cloud is a large, localized, persistent, and often abrupt lowering of cloud that develops beneath the surrounding base of a cumulonimbus cloud and from which tornadoes sometimes form. It is typically beneath the rain-free base portion of a thunderstorm and indicates the area of the strongest updraft within a storm.
Rotating wall clouds are an indication of a mesocyclone in a thunderstorm; most strong tornadoes form from these. Your Photos. Send Us A News Tip. Minnesota Road Conditions. Iowa Road Conditions. High School. Maverick Hockey Quick Hits. Prep Athlete of the Week Nomination. Golden Apple Nominations. Hometown Connection. About Us. Contact Us. Satellite Carriage Request. Submit Photos and Video. Watch Previous Newscasts. Gray DC. Investigate TV.
Closings and Delays. Dismiss Closings Alerts Bar. The difference between a Shelf Cloud and a Wall Cloud. By Joshua Eckl. Updated: Mar. Share on Facebook. Wall clouds will rotate on a vertical axis, sometimes strongly. The wall cloud is much smaller and more compact than a shelf cloud and is usually under a rain free cloud base. Scud clouds are often mistakenly called wall clouds or funnel clouds.
In reality, these are just rising clouds due to increased low level relative humidity. They will not rotate and will rise slowly.
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