#2750 "Singleton Story of Swell Wind Waves"

#2750 "Singleton Story of Swell Wind Waves"
11x14 oils on canvas

I decided to document the story revealed in the February sunrise sky. The leading edge of the warm conveyor belt had already passed to the east of Singleton. 

The broad bands of cloud were actually swells within the atmospheric ocean. The wave crests of those swells had reached the lifted condensation level for the air mass creating those broad bands. The troughs in those same swells were barely under the lifted condensation level and the width of the stripes of clear sky were limited. With increased moisture and lift along the warm conveyor belt further to the west, these narrow bands of blue sky were getting squeezed out entirely. 

Wave clouds were embedded on top of the swells. These smaller gravity waves were perpendicular to the swells and drifting toward the southeast. The clues in the sunrise sky told that the anticyclonic companion of the warm conveyor belt was approaching Singleton. The weather would be more intense further to the north. 

The cold conveyor belt was chilly with a steady 10-knot wind out of the east. It was quite chilly when I went out repeatedly to document the changes in the cloud patterns. 

Different meteorological views of the approaching winter storm.
In order from the top left: Surface Map, Visible, Infra-red, 
Mid-Level Water Vapour, Low-level Water Vapour, Nighttime Microphysics RGB, Surface Observations Map.
Each source of data gives us another window from which to better
understand and predict the approaching weather conditions. There
are an increasing number of data platforms including conventional, doppler
and dual-polarization radar which I did not include. 

The combination of the warm conveyor belt and the strong cold conveyor belt revealed that this was going to be a significant winter storm. The easterly wind in the earth frame of reference where we live signifies a stronger or slower than average approaching weather system. Snowfall, freezing rain and winter storm warnings were all hoisted and verified fairly well. We had arranged to be able to stay at home and that was precisely what we did in front of the wood stove while the weather raged outside. 

The following morning, the strong winds and blowing snow were persisting so I decided to head inside to the Singleton Sanctuary Studio and the wood stove. The winter storm gradually tapered off Thursday afternoon. 

If you paint what you see, the science of nature is included at no extra cost. Every cloud and pattern in the atmospheric sea has an interesting story to tell. 

For this and much more art, click on Pixels.

Warmest regards and keep your paddle in the water,

Phil Chadwick