anvil cloud
Flat-topped cumulonimbus
An anvil cloud is the flat, spreading top of a mature thunderstorm, shaped like a blacksmith's anvil.
It forms when rising air hits the tropopause and spreads horizontally, often extending far ahead of the storm.
Anvil clouds signal severe weather potential: The anvil cloud stretched for miles, warning of the approaching storm.
Tall storm-producing cloud
- supercellRotating severe thunderstorm
- mammatusPouch-like cloud protrusions
- mesocycloneRotating updraft in supercells
- updraftUpward air movement
downdraft · precipitation · hail · convection · cumulus · pileus · virga · ice crystals
Atmospheric electrical discharge
- thunderStorm's acoustic aftermath
- severe weatherDangerous atmospheric phenomena
- tornadoViolent rotating windstorm
- squallBrief, violent windstorm
downburst · microburst · wind shear · electrification · storm cell · outflow · storm chasing · radar
Fearful anticipation of harm
- menacingConveying threat or danger
- threateningExpressing intent to harm
- darkeningGrowing less bright
- loomingAppearing threateningly close
impending · brooding · shadowy · intimidating · daunting · dramatic · powerful · formidable
Horizontally terminated above
- spreadingExtending over space
- mushroom-shapedResembling a toadstool's silhouette
- toweringOf imposing height
- massiveExtremely large and heavy
dense · billowing · white cap · layered · plume · canopy · dome · glaciated
Extremely great in size
- expansiveCovering a large area
- enormousExtremely large in scale
- giganticImmensely large in scale
- immenseExtremely large in scope
towering · spreading · high-altitude · tropospheric · atmospheric · colossal · monumental
thunderhead
Tall storm-producing cloud
- supercellRotating severe thunderstorm
- mammatusPouch-like cloud protrusions
- mesocycloneRotating updraft in supercells
updraft · downdraft · precipitation · hail · convection · cumulus · pileus · virga · ice crystals
lightning
Atmospheric electrical discharge
- thunderStorm's acoustic aftermath
- severe weatherDangerous atmospheric phenomena
- tornadoViolent rotating windstorm
squall · downburst · microburst · wind shear · electrification · storm cell · outflow · storm chasing · radar · warning
foreboding
Fearful anticipation of harm
- menacingConveying threat or danger
- threateningExpressing intent to harm
- darkeningGrowing less bright
looming · impending · brooding · shadowy · intimidating · daunting · dramatic · powerful · formidable · imposing
flat-topped
Horizontally terminated above
- spreadingExtending over space
- mushroom-shapedResembling a toadstool's silhouette
- toweringOf imposing height
massive · dense · billowing · white cap · layered · plume · canopy · dome · glaciated
vast
Extremely great in size
immense · towering · spreading · high-altitude · tropospheric · atmospheric · colossal · monumental