Lenticulars

[Richard]

Winds aloft:

LAS
0117+02 0418-04 0520-09 0363-18 0389-26 029243 039151 035952

From the nearest TAF:

KEED 152320Z 160024 01022G35KT P6SM SKC

All day I have been watching a sky full of lents form, disappear and reform upstream. This cycle is approximately :30 minutes from formation to remergence.

The pics are a cloud forming, being stretched downwind, and reconsolidating upstream.

 

[Richard]

This series encompasses about a :45 minute time frame. The palm trees are a fixed point of reference.

Side note: The best cloud formations were this early AM. Actual saucer shaped clouds. I was busy and thought the cloud formations would become more distinct later in the day. I was wrong. The pics posted here are form this afternoon.

 

[Richard]

While these are definately standing wave clouds, what I don't understand is the 'filigree' formations. My past observations have always shown a very smooth edged cloud. Perhaps a peculiar combination of relative humdity and OAT would explain the divergent edges.

 

[Richard]

The 3rd and 4th pics of the last series show a filiment forming upstream of the main cloud. At first I thought this was the trailing edge of a cloud further upstream but it was indeterminate if it was that or perhaps a new crest in the embroyo stage.

All I know is the more I know the less I understand.

EDIT: pictures are looking about 190 degrees. The wind flow is from right to left in the pictures.

 

[Richard]

I just noticed something...in the 4th pic of the first series it looks like K-H waves forming in the top right of the cloud.

 

[Richard]

This is what I saw this morning but alas I didn't capture it on the camera.

 

[Areeda]

Pretty cool pictures Richard.

I wonder if the lack of smooth edges has something to do with the very low humidity??

KLAS 160056Z 03014KT 10SM CLR 14/M13 A3005 RMK AO2 SLP173 T01391128
KLAS 152356Z 03014G20KT 10SM CLR 15/M13 A3004 RMK AO2 SLP169 T01501128 10150 20094 56008
KLAS 152256Z 02015G20KT 10SM CLR 15/M14 A3004 RMK AO2 SLP169 T01501139
KLAS 152156Z 36017G22KT 10SM CLR 14/M13 A3005 RMK AO2 SLP174 T01391133
KLAS 152056Z 03011KT 10SM CLR 14/M12 A3007 RMK AO2 SLP179 T01391122 58014
KLAS 151956Z 05009G16KT 10SM CLR 12/M12 A3009 RMK AO2 SLP189 T01221122

 

[Richard]

Thanks, Joe. Now here's a thought: given low humidity and definite ice crystal formations, what is the electrical potential? IOW, why no lightning?

 

[Tristar]

This is what I saw this morning but alas I didn't capture it on the camera.

Haha are you sure aliens aren't disguising themselves? That last one looked pretty suspicious!

 

[tonycondon]

nice pics, perhaps a good wave soaring day.

hows that post count coming richard?

 

[mikea]

This is what I saw this morning but alas I didn't capture it on the camera.

Haha are you sure aliens aren't disguising themselves? That last one looked pretty suspicious!

That was what was caused a panic and a flurry of stories when one showed west of O'Hare last year.

You just know it had to be a UFO because it didn't show up on radar!