Massive shelf cloud appears in Haridwar amid heavy rains. Watch
A viral video which is currently circulating on social media shows the formation of spectacular clouds during the heavy monsoon rains in Haridwar. This meteorological occurrence is commonly known as a 'shelf cloud,' or sometimes referred to as an 'Arcus cloud.' A shelf cloud is a type of low-lying, horizontal cloud formation characterized by a clearly defined line of solid clouds. What enhances its visual impact is the horizontal rotation it exhibits.
The video has been shared on Twitter by user named ‘Anindya Singh’ who claims that it was shared to him by a friend. However, the Livemint has not independently confirmed the authenticity of the video. The viral video has left several online viewers in shock, making them even more curious about the formation of such a remarkable meteorological structure.
The video footage shows clouds as a towering wall, close to how a snow-capped mountain would appear. Notably, individuals can be observed walking along the road as the cloud forms against it. Since the video was uploaded on twitter, it has garnered almost 135.3K views, 1,874 likes and 491 retweets.
The Shelf clouds, also called Arcus cloud, are known for their distinctive wedge-shaped formation. They extends horizontally beneath the main cloud base and typically appears on the leading edge of a storm, the Weather Zone said The formation of shelf clouds occurs when a mass of cold and dense air is forcefully driven by the wind into a warmer air mass. This phenomenon takes place during the downdraft of a thunderstorm, where the cold air rapidly descends and disperses, creating a strong gust front.
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