Earth:Cumulonimbus capillatus
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Short description: Hazardous cloud
A cumulonimbus capillatus is a cumulonimbus cloud with dense cirrus clouds above it, making the cloud top appear to contain hair-like structures. It is an intermediate stage between cumulonimbus calvus and cumulonimbus incus.
Etymology
The name comes from the Latin word capillatus, meaning "with hair".[1]
Hazards
A cumulonimbus capillatus is a mature and powerful cumulonimbus cloud and can produce multiple severe weather.[2]
- Lightning:[3] this is a strong thunderstorm cloud and it is capable of producing bursts of cloud to ground and cloud to cloud lightning.
- Hail:[3] hailstones may fall from this cloud if it is in a highly unstable environment (which favors a more vigorous storm updraft).
- Heavy rain:[4] the cloud may drop several inches of rain in a short amount of time. This can cause flash flooding.
- Strong wind:[3] gale-force winds from a downburst may occur under this cloud.
- Weak to strong tornados can occur.
External links
References
- ↑ "capillatus" (in en). Oxford Reference (Oxford University Press). https://oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803095547558. Retrieved 2021-10-18.
- ↑ Korosec, Marko (2025-02-21). "Types of convective clouds – from fair-weather clouds to thunderstorms" (in en-US). https://www.severe-weather.eu/learnweather/severe-weather-theory/convective-cloud-types-mk/.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Cumulonimbus capillatus (Cb cap)" (in EN). https://cloudatlas.wmo.int/species-cumulonimbus-capillatus-cb-cap.html.
- ↑ "Cumulonimbus clouds" (in en). https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/learn-about/weather/types-of-weather/clouds/low-level-clouds/cumulonimbus.
