© Martin Gudd

Mainz, Germany

Latitude: 49° 58' 27'' N

Longitude: 8° 13' 56'' E

25 September 2012 1112 (Local Time)
Camera direction: towards NW

Image P/S code: P.5.6

Image I.D.: 3780

C_L = 2, C_M = 2, C_H = /

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  Altostratus opacus praecipitatio and Cumulus

  Altostratus opacus covered the sky, from which light to moderate continuous rain was falling. The overcast layer had been Nimbostratus but could not be identified as such at the time of the photo as the Sun was not completely masked by the cloud layer on the horizon. This is evident from the amount of light that is being transmitted through the cloud layer: it is sufficient to illuminate the tops of the northernmost line of Cumulus of the species congestus. In front of this illuminated line of congestus is a line of Cumulus fractus and mediocris; this line is in the shadow of the first line. The thinning in the rain-bearing cloud marks the rear edge of the frontal cloud band and the Cumulus are developing in colder air behind this band. 

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  © Martin Gudd
  Mainz, Germany
  Latitude: 49° 58' 27'' N
  Longitude: 8° 13' 56'' E
  25 September 2012 1112 (Local Time)
  
  
  Camera direction: towards NW
  C_L = 2, C_M = 2, C_H = /
  Image P/S code: P.5.6
  Image I.D.: 3780
• 

  The surface chart shows the situation a short time after the photo was taken. The cold front had passed, and behind the front the Nimbostratus cloud covered the sky and rain was setting in. The temperature was steadily decreasing, and with the entry of the colder air, the cloud type changed in the afternoon, with Cumulus clouds and finally fair weather.

  © Verein Berliner Wetterkarte e.V.
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  The sounding is from a site 74 km west-south-west and from two hours after the photo was taken. It shows significant moisture surface to 385 hPa (7 400 m).
  © University of Wyoming
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  The satellite picture shows the situation three hours after the photo was taken. A low over the British Isles is the driving force for the weather over the middle parts of Europe. There is an elongated frontal cloud band extending from Germany over France to Spain. 

  © EUMETSAT, 2012