Help understanding this image!

• by madeleine.corcoran

  Hi there,

  I am trying to better understand this image. In the center of the storm, is there no precipitation because it is white?
  Also, what would these clouds be like?

  I am just starting to follow the weather, so any explanations you may have would be greatly appreciated.

  Thanks!

  Posted March 30, 2017 11:25 AM

• by peterthorne moderator

  Hi Madeleine,

  the colours in all these images are denoting the cloud top temperatures. The mauves, reds and oranges are rather warm clouds which means they are relatively low clouds (relatively limited vertical extent). The blues and whites denote cold / very cold clouds. These will be very deep clouds of great vertical extent. The white clouds are likely all the way to the tropopause (15-20Km). The white clouds are likely where the storm centre is. Here it shall be windiest but I would also expect it to be very wet.

  Posted March 30, 2017 1:22 PM

• by madeleine.corcoran

  Thank you for your help!

  Posted April 1, 2017 8:07 PM

• by madeleine.corcoran

  I just want to confirm, this would be considered an embedded storm?

  Posted April 1, 2017 8:10 PM

• by peterthorne moderator

  Yes, this is a relatively strong embedded storm.

  Posted April 1, 2017 9:05 PM

• by madeleine.corcoran

  Great. Thank you

  Posted April 3, 2017 10:07 AM