If you were up early in Sooke today, you may have seen the clouds all lined up in rows. These long rows of cumulus clouds are called clouds streets, and they form parallel to the direction of the wind.
Now, cloud streets are technically called horizontal convective rolls which actually describes the science behind how they form.
As air rises, it cools in the atmosphere. Moisture in the warm air mass condenses as it cools and creates clouds. In order for these “lines” to form, you need to have descending air on either side of the cloud, creating a cloud-free zone. Line up several of these alternating rising and sinking air masses and align them with the wind, and you get cloud streets.
Thanks to CTV News viewer Bill Needoba from Sooke for snapping this fantastic picture!
