A horseshoe cloud is a relatively uncommon meteorological phenomenon [1] which manifests as a cloud in the shape of a horseshoe or inverted letter "U". [1] [2]
They occur when a horseshoe vortex deforms a cumulus cloud. [2] The clouds are relatively short-lived [2] and is the last stage before one dissipates. [3] Horseshoe vortex clouds are a form of "fair-weather" funnel cloud and are similar to the shear funnel type of funnel cloud.[ citation needed]
A March 2018 instance was explained by the United States National Weather Service: [4] [5]
As the updraft pushes flattish cumulus clouds up & a horizontal vortex develops from differential updraft speeds... As the vortex climbs, it's caught in the faster horizontal winds aloft, & the middle part of the vortex catches the faster speeds with the ends being slower.
These clouds do not occur often because all the needed conditions rarely occur together. [3]
A horseshoe cloud is a relatively uncommon meteorological phenomenon [1] which manifests as a cloud in the shape of a horseshoe or inverted letter "U". [1] [2]
They occur when a horseshoe vortex deforms a cumulus cloud. [2] The clouds are relatively short-lived [2] and is the last stage before one dissipates. [3] Horseshoe vortex clouds are a form of "fair-weather" funnel cloud and are similar to the shear funnel type of funnel cloud.[ citation needed]
A March 2018 instance was explained by the United States National Weather Service: [4] [5]
As the updraft pushes flattish cumulus clouds up & a horizontal vortex develops from differential updraft speeds... As the vortex climbs, it's caught in the faster horizontal winds aloft, & the middle part of the vortex catches the faster speeds with the ends being slower.
These clouds do not occur often because all the needed conditions rarely occur together. [3]