Storm Clouds on Prince Edward Island

November 13, 2004

Clouds_rainbow_seal_river_pei_sept_1_2004 copy

Provided by: Alan Preston
Summary authors & editors: Alan Preston; Jim Foster

The photo above showing an impressive looking storm over Prince Edward Island (PEI), Canada was taken on September 1, 2004. After passing through a brief rain storm about 4:00 p.m. (local time), I looked in the rear view mirror of my car and saw ominous storm clouds, the uppermost portion of which appeared to be sunlit. This is referred to as a pileus or cap cloud. These clouds are observed to ascend quite rapidly -- rising at velocities of 40 feet (about 12 m) per second and sometimes even faster. Note the rainbow fragment at lower right.

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