and to add, Lightning can strike anything upto 10 miles away from the main strorm...Richard wrote:In my area, thunderstorms often form about 20-30 miles from where I kite. Usually they don't affect my kiting. But sometimes they move closer to the beach and can either increase the wind or sometimes decrease it. I call it quits when one approaches, because lightning is very unpredictable.
So, whenever you see the anvil shape of a forming thunderstorm, it is smart to keep a close eye on it and take action if necessary.
Richard
A Comolus cloud is O.K.sarc wrote:We had a thunderstorm warning for inland (not coastal areas), I was out on quite irregular wind, oscillating 20 to 27 knots, then I saw this cloud forming over maybe 30 minutes - growing vertically upwards then sideways. Seemed pretty far out (maybe 30+Km) but I packed up anyway. Did I waste a hard-earned kiting day? Seems like a cumulus cloud, and I hear they can influence wind pretty far out - however nothing much happened (except strange little puff clouds flying very low near the beach - maybe 100 meters altitude. It was hot and humid). Any meterologist advice? When is a cumuls safe - when it's out of sight?? Thanxx
Cumulonimbus clouds usually form from cumulus clouds at a much lower height, thus making them, like cumulus clouds, grow vertically instead of horizontally, thus giving the cumulonimbus its mushroom shape. The base of a cumulonimbus can be several miles across, and it can be tall enough to occupy middle as well as low altitudes; though formed at an altitude of about 3,000 to 4,000 meters (10,000 to 12,000 feet), its peak can reach up to 23,000 meters (75,000 feet) in extreme cases. Typically, it peaks at a much lower height (usually up to 5,000 meters / 16,500 feet).eldadgold wrote:A Comolus cloud is O.K.sarc wrote:We had a thunderstorm warning for inland (not coastal areas), I was out on quite irregular wind, oscillating 20 to 27 knots, then I saw this cloud forming over maybe 30 minutes - growing vertically upwards then sideways. Seemed pretty far out (maybe 30+Km) but I packed up anyway. Did I waste a hard-earned kiting day? Seems like a cumulus cloud, and I hear they can influence wind pretty far out - however nothing much happened (except strange little puff clouds flying very low near the beach - maybe 100 meters altitude. It was hot and humid). Any meterologist advice? When is a cumuls safe - when it's out of sight?? Thanxx
A comolunimbus or CB cloud is VERY dangerouse. it can make a jumbo jet hit the ground with engines at 107% !!!
from what i can see in the pic the cloud is'nt a CB cloud although it has it's shape- a CB cloud looks like an anvil. it shoots up and then grows sideways.
anyway it's always better being on the safeside.
This is a pic of a cumulusnimbus from Google Images. I stopped kiting because I vaguely remembered it and my cloud looked sort of like it. I need to know what's a safe distance. I'm going with 10 miles/15Km based on your feedback. So if I see it again at 30-40 Km and no lightning I'll keep kiting! Makes sense yes?eldadgold wrote:A Comolus cloud is O.K.sarc wrote:We had a thunderstorm warning for inland (not coastal areas), I was out on quite irregular wind, oscillating 20 to 27 knots, then I saw this cloud forming over maybe 30 minutes - growing vertically upwards then sideways. Seemed pretty far out (maybe 30+Km) but I packed up anyway. Did I waste a hard-earned kiting day? Seems like a cumulus cloud, and I hear they can influence wind pretty far out - however nothing much happened (except strange little puff clouds flying very low near the beach - maybe 100 meters altitude. It was hot and humid). Any meterologist advice? When is a cumuls safe - when it's out of sight?? Thanxx
A comolunimbus or CB cloud is VERY dangerouse. it can make a jumbo jet hit the ground with engines at 107% !!!
from what i can see in the pic the cloud is'nt a CB cloud although it has it's shape- a CB cloud looks like an anvil. it shoots up and then grows sideways.
anyway it's always better being on the safeside.
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