The Helm

• Author
  Posts
• • October 2, 2017 at 11:12 pm #233393
    Howard Brown

    Participant

    On 26DEC2016 I made a New Year Resolution to this CAS Forum that I would bring Anita’s brilliant video of the Helm Bar from the CAS Old Forum. Sadly I can longer find it and we have not heard from Anita in Cumbria, UK, in a long time (if at all in this forum). So I beg to be excused and just offer this public description

    http://www.weatheronline.co.uk/reports/wind/The-Helm-Wind.htm

    P.S.  Anita did subscribe to other video programs with which I am unfamiliar, so perhaps someone might yet rediscover it?

    EDIT:  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4476672/Roll-cloud-spotted-skies-Cumbria.html

    http://www.itv.com/news/border/2017-05-05/rare-clouds-caused-by-cumbrian-wind-spotted-over-region/

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-cumbria-39817611/a-rare-form-of-the-cloud-known-as-the-helm-bar-was-seen-over-cumbria-last-night

  • October 3, 2017 at 4:14 pm #233516
    Laurence Green

    Participant

    Hello Hygge

    Until your posting I have never heard, let alone see, a Helm cloud.  This is new stuff, at least, to me.

    I think this is almost akin to a roll cloud which one sometimes sees when it is misty, rainy or drizzly etc.  But this Helm cloud seems to occur in much better warmer fair weather.

    Thanks for the sharing of this.  Again, I have learnt something new from the CAS.

    Laurence

     

     

     

  • October 3, 2017 at 4:23 pm #233518
    Laurence Green

    Participant

    Hello again

    This Helm cloud is “bugging” me!

    I recall previously posting an image  of a remarkable cloud looking so like Concorde “flying” over the famous Ribble Head railway viaduct in Yorkshire.  This is an example of the Helm cloud.

    https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=helm+cloud&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjH_Yep39TWAhXGKFAKHWJPC14QsAQIVA&biw=1602&bih=901#imgrc=GD60BjV_O5Gj1M:&spf=1507043813094

    Within Google images there are photos of the Helm cloud.  This cloud, it seems, occurs over Cross Fell, Cumbria (UK Lake District) .  Helm meaning hilltop.

    Laurence

  • October 3, 2017 at 5:37 pm #233524
    Laurie Floyd

    Participant

    We saw this oddity the other evening, after storms had come through. It looks similar to me.

    

  • October 6, 2017 at 11:43 pm #234052
    Howard Brown

    Participant

    Orographic clouds

    Laurie, the Helm cloud and the Helm Bar (a rotor cloud) are orographic – related to the hilly terrain. As such they will re-occur from time to time.

    https://cloudatlas.wmo.int/search.html?keyword=orographic

    Morning Glory

    This is a roll cloud which will re-occur from time to time. Cloud authors, not least CAS’ Gavin Pretor-Pinney have been to see it and/or written about it. As luck would have it it is apparently occurring right now:

    https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/flying-the-ultimate-wave-gvqlvgsxw

  • October 9, 2017 at 12:39 am #234407
    George Preoteasa

    Participant

    The Helm cloud is really interesting, but given the local geography, I would call it an orographic cloud, very similar to a lenticularis. The texture seems the same too. And though not stated, it appears to last in place.

• Author
  Posts