Clouds of the Day - Friday, May 5, 2023 - Clouds Go Vertical

After clear skies most of this week, a change is on the way. With the weather pattern over the United States shifting slowly eastward, storminess in the western United States is now inching into the middle of the nation. This means rain, thunderstorms, and the potential for severe weather. To keep up with what is happening with any severe weather use this link to the Storm Prediction Center.

For the general forecast from the National Weather Service click this link to the Weather Prediction Center.

For your local forecast from NOAA click to the National Weather Service homepage and then click on your state and go local from there.

The photos below were taken this afternoon. They revealed a return of warmer weather clouds - cumulus, and cumulus congestus.

Cumulus mediocris Photo copyright 2023 by Craig Johnson/Weather briefing LC

The cloud bases in both photos show the condensation level when low level air rises into the mid-levels of the atmosphere. The distinct bases of these cumulus show where the rising air cools enough to cause condensation of water vapor into tiny cloud droplets. The dry air below the clouds creates good visibility because the air is clear of condensation and haze.

Cumulus Congestus Photo copyright 2023 by Craig Johnson/Weather briefing LC

Looking at the weather station graph showing the dew point trace of the past 48 hours (5-5-2023), indicates dew points had risen from the upper 30s yesterday afternoon (5-4-2023) to the mid 50s today. The increase in moisture shows up in the cloud cover today. Rising motion plus moisture created the cumulus clouds. The cloud bases were at about 4,800 feet.

Weather Station traces for temperature, dew point temperature, and relative humidity

Weather Prediction Center (NOAA) Forecast map for 5-5-2023 - 5-6-2023

After several days of strong northerly today began a southerly flow that increase the moisture content of the air. The dotted green line on the chart above is the dew point trace. It shows the rise in dew points overnight into today. Light rain began falling early this evening.