#2644 "Promise of April Rain"

#2644 "Promise of April Rain"
11x14 by 3/4 inches, oil

The sunset sky was classic warm frontal. 

There were multiple layers of cloud within the warm conveyor belt and it was difficult to discern just were each started from my humble, earth-bound perspective. There was a high layer of cirrocumulus and perhaps an intermediate layer of altocumulus. The layer of lower altostratus appeared to gradually thicken toward the west. The spring sun cast a bright light through the leading edges of the thinner cloud layers and illuminated a shining path toward my eyes on the eastern shore of Singleton. There was only grey cloud on the western horizon. The nimbostratus and rain would arrive after midnight. 

As is typical with a system approaching eastern Ontario, the anticyclonic companion of the warm conveyor belt would arrive first. Gravity waves within that altostratus where sheared toward the southeast. The rain would arrive first and be heavier further to the north. 

Eastern North America is fortunate to enjoy the rain while the west coast endures a prolonged drought. 

I was interested in capturing the cellular nature of the altocumulus where weak ascent is balanced by clear rings of descent within the cloud layer. 

I deployed my rain gauge before this storm and so far by the time I finished this painting, we had received 24 mm of rain. 

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