© Michael Bruhn

Aspendale Gardens VIC 3195, Australia

Latitude: 38° 1' 31'' S

Longitude: 145° 6' 55'' E

11 January 2016 1139 (Local Time)
Camera direction: towards WNW

Image P/S code: P.4.29

Image I.D.: 5954

C_L = 9, C_M = 8, C_H = 0

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  Altocumulus castellanus and floccus

  Nondescript patches of Altocumulus and Altocumulus castellanus and floccus, developing east of a trough, can be seen in this image. 

  Small patches and lines of Altocumulus were the first clouds to form. Cumuliform turrets rapidly developed from these patches and lines (species castellanus). The turrets with the greatest vertical extent can be seen on the crest and eastern side of a marked middle-level wave.  

  Within minutes, the castellanus base started dissipating, transitioning the cloud to floccus. Older, almost completely evaporated floccus cells are also evident.  

  Not all of the Altocumulus castellanus dissipated. Some developed sufficiently in the vertical and evolved into Cumulus congestus, while others developed further and evolved into Cumulonimbus capillatus praecipitatio incus altocumlogenitus. The distant shower from this cell can be seen on the lower left. Cirrus fibratus sheared from Cumulonimbus tops can be seen in places.

  Light showers of rain were reported in the Melbourne, Victoria, Australia area during the afternoon. A light shower and thunder marked the passage of the trough, as did a 16 °C drop in temperature.

  Links in the image description will highlight features on the image. Mouse over the features for more detail.

  © Michael Bruhn
  Aspendale Gardens VIC 3195, Australia
  Latitude: 38° 1' 31'' S
  Longitude: 145° 6' 55'' E
  11 January 2016 1139 (Local Time)
  
  
  Camera direction: towards WNW
  C_L = 9, C_M = 8, C_H = 0
  Image P/S code: P.4.29
  Image I.D.: 5954
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  Hot conditions in north to north-west winds ahead of an approaching trough from the west 

  © Commonwealth of Australia 2016, Bureau of Meteorology
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  Unstable shallow surface layer, conditionally unstable (borderline outright unstable) from above this layer to 664 hPa (3 600 m)

  © University of Wyoming
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  The Himawari channel 7 mid-infrared image shows the precipitating Cumulonimbus to the west-north-west, across the bay. More Cumulonimbus can be seen developing on an arc from the south-south-west to the north-west.

  © Commonwealth of Australia 2016, Bureau of Meteorology / Japan Meteorological Agency