Portugal recently experienced a significant heat wave, reaching record temperatures of 116 degrees Fahrenheit. Amid these conditions, stunning roll clouds formed along the northern and central coast, mesmerizing beachgoers. These clouds, characterized by their tsunami-like appearance, are created when warm, dry air meets cold, moist air. Although they can cover vast distances, roll clouds form and dissipate rapidly under specific atmospheric conditions, particularly intensified by temperature contrasts. Experts noted that the current heat wave contributed to the ideal conditions for the formation of these clouds.
Videos taken across parts of the northern and central coast showed a dark, tsunami-like cloud formation, commonly referred to as a roll cloud, billowing over the ocean.
Roll clouds are formed when cold, moist air moves inland at a shallow height and meets warm, dry air from inland, under the right wind conditions.
They tend to occur when there's not enough moisture to trigger rain or thunderstorms, but just enough water vapor to condense into an opaque, oblong cloud.
Ceppi said the heat wave contributed to the perfect conditions for roll clouds with the temperature contrast between the warm land and colder ocean setting up differences in air pressure.
Collection
[
|
...
]