Video: What are shelf clouds that appeared in Haridwar?

A video showcasing spectacular clouds in Haridwar has gone viral on social media. This meteorological phenomenon is commonly referred to as a shelf cloud, distinguished by a distinct solid line of clouds. Notably, this particular formation appears to be horizontally rotated, adding to its striking visual appeal. It is crucial to comprehend the characteristics of shelf clouds, as they typically bring forth powerful winds followed by a cascade of water splashes. Let us delve a bit deeper into the intriguing world of shelf clouds.

Shelf clouds in Haridwar

Anindya Singh shared this video on Twitter, in which he mentioned that his friend in Haridwar managed to capture the astonishing shelf cloud on his camera.

In the video, the cloud resembles a towering wall, reminiscent of a massive snow-capped mountain obstructing the road. The sight is astonishing, leaving everyone in bemusement, as it is highly unusual to witness such extraordinary cloud formations.

Now let's understand shelf clouds in a little detail

According to the weather zone, it is a type of arcus cloud, characterized by wedge shape formation that extends horizontally below the base cloud. Often mistaken for wall clouds, shelf clouds actually appear on the leading edge of a storm, whereas wall clouds are formed on the back side of the storm.

The base of the shelf cloud is comprised of a thunderstorm cumulonimbus, which is a dense and towering vertical cloud usually formed from the condensation of water vapor in the lower troposphere. These clouds develop upwards as they are carried by robust and buoyant air currents.

How do they form?

Shelf clouds are the result of cold and dense air being pushed by the wind into a warmer air mass. This surge of cold air commonly happens during a thunderstorm's downdraft, as the cold air rushes downwards and then spreads out to form a powerful gust front.

The shelf cloud formation is often accompanied by powerful straight-line winds, potentially bringing heavy rain and hail storms.

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