Cirrus feather quill

01/16/12, 11:30 am, facing the northwest

More cirrus uncinus today with a weather change, a warming trend this time, in store. This cloud looked like a quill pen to me. I like how the lacy, feathery bits came out.


Tomorrow's weather is forecast to be a complete change with showers overnight and a high of 65 degrees F. 

Cold cirrus wisps

01/14/12, 1:30 pm, looking west

The sky was full of teased cirrus wisps on this cold day--sort of sounds like a food! Fresh cirrus wisps, ice-cold cirrus wisps! These look like rooster tails to me, but cirrus uncinus are usually called "mare's tails". 


Unicinus in the name is Latin for hook and refers to the wispy curls the wind makes in the cirrus clouds. Cirrus uncinus generally indicates the presence of high- speed winds, which pilots often associate this cloud with turbulence.


Cirrus uncinus do not necessarily indicate any weather change. They can come before a warm front although that isn't the case on this day. It is getting very cold.