Dr. Jeff Masters' WunderBlog

Last Updated: 12:36 AM GMT on June 19, 2013 — Last Comment: 11:59 AM GMT on June 19, 2013

	Spectacular cloud holes yesterday

Posted by: JeffMasters, 5:01 PM GMT on January 30, 2007

An unusually large series of cloud holes developed over Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, and Alabama yesterday, which were captured by several alert wunderphotographers (see the thumbnail images at the bottom). These cloud holes (also called "dissipation trails" or "distrails") are formed when an aircraft passes through a deck of clouds containing water drops that have cooled below the freezing point of water. The exhaust particles of the aircraft's engines serve as nuclei for the supercooled water drops to freeze on, and the resulting ice crystals fall towards the ground as "fall streaks". Also, engine heat and turbulence along the wing tips mixes moist and dry air, helping create clear holes. It typically takes about 20 minutes for a cloud hole to form after an airplane has passed, so it is not obvious that a aircraft create the holes.

Visible image of the clouds holes of January 29, 2007, as seen by NASA's Terra satellite.

For more detailed information on this event, including animations and upper-air plots, see the University of Wisconsin CIMSS Satellite blog.

I'll have a preview on Wednesday of the upcoming blockbuster climate report scheduled to be released Friday by the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

Jeff Masters

Alabama Sky

This photo was uploaded by: southgirl

Very cold here in Alabama. Temp this am was 20 degrees. Brrrr

Negative Contrail 1

This photo was uploaded by: WeatheringHeights

Even though I was sick as a dog (and home from work), I went out in the freezing cold this morning and took pictures, when I saw this cloud out the window. I just couldn't miss this one. ;) The second photo is looking west, this one was looking east. I sent it to the Chief Meteorologist at KXAS-TV - NBC5 in Dallas-Fort Worth. Here's what he said.... "It's a kind of 'negative' contrail. Apparently the jet exhaust caused the cirrus cloud layer to condense and fall out as snow, leaving a gap in the clouds. I don't think I've ever seen one like it.

Cloud1

This photo was uploaded by: eds0736

Strange

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202. Tazmanian 3:41 AM GMT on January 31, 2007
Agree cyclonebuster has long as you keep the Global Warming part out for a day or so ok? Member Since: May 21, 2006 Posts: 5089 Comments: 111615

204. Inyo 4:00 AM GMT on January 31, 2007
well the last La Nina brought more rain than the current El Nino, and rains this year only started when El Nino fizzled. So i say, bring on the La Nina (for the west coast anyway.. we don't need any more Gulf hurricanes) Member Since: September 3, 2002 Posts: 42 Comments: 765

205. weatherboykris 4:02 AM GMT on January 31, 2007
anyone on? Member Since: December 9, 2006 Posts: 125 Comments: 11343

206. pottery 4:35 AM GMT on January 31, 2007
who's up at this hour. Its Friday where I am. Member Since: October 24, 2005 Posts: 0 Comments: 20866

207. pottery 4:37 AM GMT on January 31, 2007
Or maybe its Wednesday. What day is it anyway ? Member Since: October 24, 2005 Posts: 0 Comments: 20866

208. weatherboykris 4:40 AM GMT on January 31, 2007
It's not Friday anywhere on earth Member Since: December 9, 2006 Posts: 125 Comments: 11343

209. weatherboykris 4:41 AM GMT on January 31, 2007
11:38 PM here. Member Since: December 9, 2006 Posts: 125 Comments: 11343

210. pottery 4:41 AM GMT on January 31, 2007
Cant be Friday, cause yesterday was Tuesday. Today is certainly Wednesday. And we are all still here. Except for the ones that are not, of course. Member Since: October 24, 2005 Posts: 0 Comments: 20866

211. weatherboykris 4:42 AM GMT on January 31, 2007
so how are you doing? Member Since: December 9, 2006 Posts: 125 Comments: 11343

212. pottery 4:44 AM GMT on January 31, 2007
Its strange hearing from you , as you are still yesterday.......... Member Since: October 24, 2005 Posts: 0 Comments: 20866

213. weatherboykris 4:44 AM GMT on January 31, 2007
knock it off.LOL.What do you think of the El Nino? Member Since: December 9, 2006 Posts: 125 Comments: 11343

214. pottery 4:44 AM GMT on January 31, 2007
Are you a voice from the past ????? Member Since: October 24, 2005 Posts: 0 Comments: 20866

215. pottery 4:46 AM GMT on January 31, 2007
I,m from the future. What do you wish to know about tomorow ? Member Since: October 24, 2005 Posts: 0 Comments: 20866

216. weatherboykris 4:47 AM GMT on January 31, 2007
stop it. Member Since: December 9, 2006 Posts: 125 Comments: 11343

217. pottery 4:51 AM GMT on January 31, 2007
El Nino has gone away. The predictions were out again. The forecasters are basing thier predictions on historical info that no longer applies. We are flying blind now, and noone can acurately predict the weather or climate with more than 50 % accuracy. Thats what I think....... Member Since: October 24, 2005 Posts: 0 Comments: 20866

218. pottery 4:53 AM GMT on January 31, 2007
But there is a 50 % chance I may be wrong !! Member Since: October 24, 2005 Posts: 0 Comments: 20866

219. pottery 4:54 AM GMT on January 31, 2007
I hope I have not upset you ........ Member Since: October 24, 2005 Posts: 0 Comments: 20866

220. weatherboykris 4:56 AM GMT on January 31, 2007
not really.But seriously,it looks just about over. Member Since: December 9, 2006 Posts: 125 Comments: 11343

221. pottery 4:59 AM GMT on January 31, 2007
Can you recall what the original forecast was, back in Nov. ? I'm trying to remember, but the head is tired... Member Since: October 24, 2005 Posts: 0 Comments: 20866

222. pottery 5:01 AM GMT on January 31, 2007
I think that it was to sustain until June, and dissipate by August. Is that right ? Member Since: October 24, 2005 Posts: 0 Comments: 20866

223. weatherboykris 5:02 AM GMT on January 31, 2007
from December 9th... Member Since: December 9, 2006 Posts: 125 Comments: 11343

224. pottery 5:03 AM GMT on January 31, 2007
Oh, and its Wed. where you are too, so everything is cool. Member Since: October 24, 2005 Posts: 0 Comments: 20866

225. weatherboykris 5:07 AM GMT on January 31, 2007
Yeah,I've finally caught up. Member Since: December 9, 2006 Posts: 125 Comments: 11343

226. pottery 5:08 AM GMT on January 31, 2007
OK. So what do you think caused the change to normal so early in the year. Any ideas ? Member Since: October 24, 2005 Posts: 0 Comments: 20866

227. weatherboykris 5:10 AM GMT on January 31, 2007
Things just didn't develop the way they were supposed to I geuss...you? Member Since: December 9, 2006 Posts: 125 Comments: 11343

228. weatherboykris 5:15 AM GMT on January 31, 2007
goodnight Pottery. Member Since: December 9, 2006 Posts: 125 Comments: 11343

229. pottery 5:17 AM GMT on January 31, 2007
Exactly ! But why didnt they develop as expected ? My point earlier is pertinent here. We are basing our forecasts on what USED to happen. The climate has changed, and will continue to do so. So we are attempting to predict the weather using outdated info. This will change as we understand what is happening NOW, but the info we are getting is not enough yet. Ice caps melting, ocean temps changing, hot dry air from Africa reaching Florida etc. Its all too new........ Member Since: October 24, 2005 Posts: 0 Comments: 20866

230. pottery 5:18 AM GMT on January 31, 2007
Nite Nite........ Member Since: October 24, 2005 Posts: 0 Comments: 20866

231. pottery 5:19 AM GMT on January 31, 2007
Any insomniacs out there ? Member Since: October 24, 2005 Posts: 0 Comments: 20866

232. pottery 5:28 AM GMT on January 31, 2007
In the morning then........................... Member Since: October 24, 2005 Posts: 0 Comments: 20866

233. Brunski 6:09 AM GMT on January 31, 2007
insomniac? you people from the future tire easy. It's only 10pm Tuesday in Cali. - of course, there's no weather here to type about... so, later! Member Since: December 21, 2006 Posts: 1 Comments: 41

234. HadesGodWyvern 8:26 AM GMT on January 31, 2007
TCWC DARWIN: Northern Territory Australia TROPICAL LOW 11.3�S 135.6�E - 25 knots 1001 hPa Tropical Cyclone Advisory ========================== Tropical Low is situated in the southern Arafura Sea about 80 km north of Elcho Island and 165 km northwest of Nhulunbuy. The Tropical Low is reported moving east at 8 knots. Tropical Cyclone Watch ========================= A CYCLONE WATCH is now current from Elcho Island to Numbulwar, including Nhulunbuy and Groote Eylandt. Member Since: May 24, 2006 Posts: 43 Comments: 36926

235. HurricaneMyles 11:41 AM GMT on January 31, 2007
Pottery....We've never done well with ENSO forecasts. I dont think the state of climate change is really make those predictions any worse because they we're already bad to begin with. Member Since: January 12, 2006 Posts: 5 Comments: 827

236. weatherboykris 12:13 PM GMT on January 31, 2007
good morning Member Since: December 9, 2006 Posts: 125 Comments: 11343

237. biff4ugo 1:51 PM GMT on January 31, 2007
There was a photo just like this a month or so ago called "dove in a hole" but now I can't find it. I thought it was some sort of thermal microburst of vertical activity. Didn't think of something as narrow or linear as a contrail. The falling snow in it makes a cool "ice bird" pattern inside the clear nucleated hole. Member Since: December 28, 2006 Posts: 107 Comments: 1212

238. Patrap 2:23 PM GMT on January 31, 2007
50 frame CIMSS MIMIC of DORA..Vmax 77knots peak Link Member Since: July 3, 2005 Posts: 377 Comments: 112968

239. weatherguy03 2:25 PM GMT on January 31, 2007
ENSO predictions and climate change dont mix. Early season tropical predictions will be interesting! Member Since: July 5, 2005 Posts: 581 Comments: 29681

240. weatherboykris 2:49 PM GMT on January 31, 2007
nice Patrap Member Since: December 9, 2006 Posts: 125 Comments: 11343

241. weatherboykris 2:49 PM GMT on January 31, 2007
got that for any other storms? Member Since: December 9, 2006 Posts: 125 Comments: 11343

242. weatherboykris 3:18 PM GMT on January 31, 2007
looks like maybe an EWRC in the cards soon?The southern rainband seems to be getting stronger. Member Since: December 9, 2006 Posts: 125 Comments: 11343

243. snotly 3:23 PM GMT on January 31, 2007
Actually it is Friday here on earth near the event horizon of a tiny black hole south of Cleavland - TGIF! Member Since: August 27, 2005 Posts: 0 Comments: 673

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