WNKY News 40 Weather Reports: Mammatus Clouds

BOWLING GREEN, Ky-. The sky can be quite fascinating with different cloud forms putting on mesmerizing displays right in your own backyard! Turbulent skies generate some spectacular cloud formations. One unique cloud formation is, Mammatus clouds. This photo was captured after in intense storm rolled through Bowling Green in early August. Have you ever wondered why these clouds look the way they do?

Mammatus Clouds August 1,2024

“What happens is we have these thunderstorm updrafts and you have all this warm moist air that is rising up in the atmosphere. The higher that updraft gets, it’s actually accelerating  and when it reaches up to 40,000 or 50,000 feet up in the air in the summertime, it hits a layer of warm air up at the top called the Tropopause.” Said National Weather Service Meteorologist Brian Schoettmer.  The tropopause is a level in the atmosphere where cloud tops typically reach their limit.

“If you think about smoke rising in a building when that smoke gets to the ceiling, it stops. It can’t go any higher right? So that’s what happens with this updraft. It creates an anvil cloud and when it spreads out, it’s actually turbulent and it’s kind of bubbling up there.”-Schoettmer

What we do know is that Mammatus  clouds can be associated with storms with strong updrafts. Updrafts are particles of rising warm air which feeds into the storm.  Schoettmer explained the analogy of a beach ball rising out of the water, creating ripples, that’s similar to how our skies work with instability.

Although these clouds look eerie, they signify a weakening storm . However, in the world of aviation, Mammatus clouds mean severe turbulence is near.  “Nature has a way of warning us and Mammatus clouds are no different. They’re they’re spectacular, but they’re also ominous. And aviation community knows don’t ever fly anywhere near them.” Schoettmer mentioned.