Random Mini-CB over forestry fire, I think

Willoughby · Unread post by **Willoughby** » Fri 26/03/2004 22:55

Taken yesterday, on a crisp Autumn's Rotorua day.

Looking towards Taupo, from a bus. Im guessing it is over pine foresty, hence the direction...
Looking at the sky at the time, it was very smoky, and the colour of the clouds indicate it. Is it a CB? - It popped out from no where.

tich · Unread post by **tich** » Fri 26/03/2004 23:18

I remember living in Rotorua and seeing those sorts of clouds occasionally - not surprising being in a major forestry area. Don't know whether much can come from these clouds. I've heard of big ones overseas delivering (rather muddy) rain showers, but not thunderstorm activity that I'm aware of

TonyT · Unread post by **TonyT** » Sat 27/03/2004 07:55

Technical term is pyrocumulus.

NZstorm · Unread post by **NZstorm** » Sat 27/03/2004 08:54

Nice example of pyrocumulus. Its height (cloud top) would be 1000m or so, to small to generate a shower.

If the air was a bit unstable a bigger cloud would have formed.

spwill · Unread post by **spwill** » Sat 27/03/2004 15:22

I saw some great Pyrocumulus while living in Sydney from various Bush Fire events some of which distroyed outlying suburbs.

Over there they are a good sign that a Bush Fire has become dangerous.

NZstorm · Unread post by **NZstorm** » Sat 27/03/2004 17:32

On the Aussie Weather list about a year ago some one put up some pictures of a brillant pyrocumulus over burning cane fields in Queensland.
The cloud top was about 10000m.

C-Nimbus · Unread post by **C-Nimbus** » Mon 29/03/2004 09:01

i remember seeing pyrocumulus in Oamaru about a year ago, not as big as this one tho!

Nice photographs dude!