Sacramento Storm Cloud

July 13, 2015

SacramentostormcellDSC_1185

Photographer: Bachir Badaoui 
Summary Authors: Bachir Badaoui; Jim Foster
 
We rarely experience any thunderstorms here in Sacramento, California, much less severe weather. However, Mother Nature is full of surprises. I was lucky enough to have my camera and tripod in hand when this storm cloud, less than one half mi (0.8 km) from my home, began to rotate shortly before sunset. It appears a funnel is about to descend from the cloud's base. Funnel clouds were indeed observed in the Sacramento area, but no tornado-related storm damage was reported. Evidently there was sufficient spin (wind shear) for clouds to begin to rotate, but the storm wasn't powerful enough to generate a tornado. Photo taken on June 5, 2015.
 
Photo Details: Camera Model: NIKON D7100; Exposure Time: 20 second; F-Stop: ƒ/22; ISO Speed Ratings: 100; Focal Length: 17 mm.