Summer Thunderstorm and Shelf Cloud Near Beloit, Wisconsin

June 12, 2010

BeloitStorm

Photographer: Edwin Proctor
Summary Author: Edwin Proctor; Jim Foster

Thunderstorms are common in Wisconsin during the summer season, but they're usually not as eye-catching as this one. It wasn't a severe storm at this location, near Beloit, but it sure looked daunting. As it passed over, the wind and rain lasted no more than five minutes. Notice the wedge-shaped shelf cloud. These angular clouds are attached to the parent thunderstorm and are typically found at the leading edge of an approaching thunderstorm. Their formation is associated with the outflow from a storm's downdrafts and intake from its updrafts. Photo taken on August 9, 2009.

Photo details:
Camera Maker: Canon; Camera Model: Canon EOS 20D; Lens: 17.0-85.0 mm; Image Date: 2009-08-09 16:27:45 -0500; Focal Length: 24.0mm; Aperture: f/10.0; Exposure Time: 0.0080 s (1/125); ISO equiv: 400; Exposure Bias: none; Metering Mode: Average; Exposure: Manual; Exposure Mode: Manual; White Balance: Manual; Flash Fired: No (Manual); Photographer: Edwin E Proctor; Copyright 2009