Which visual indicator is used to update the forecast when high winds are aloft?

Which visual indicator is used to update the forecast when high winds are aloft?

• A. Lenticular
• B. Cumulus
• C. Cirrus
• D. Altocumulus

Answer: (A)

Lenticular clouds are the visual cue that signals high winds aloft. They form when moist air is forced to rise over mountains and then settles into smooth, lens-shaped waves on the leeward side. Their well-defined, stacked appearance indicates strong, gusty winds at upper levels and possible rotor winds near ridges, so spotting them prompts updating the forecast to reflect those higher winds aloft. Cumulus clouds point to surface heating and convection rather than a direct aloft wind signal; cirrus clouds show high-altitude moisture and approaching weather but don’t specifically indicate wind strength aloft; altocumulus suggests mid-level cloudiness and potential instability, not a definitive wind cue.

Lenticular clouds are the visual cue that signals high winds aloft. They form when moist air is forced to rise over mountains and then settles into smooth, lens-shaped waves on the leeward side. Their well-defined, stacked appearance indicates strong, gusty winds at upper levels and possible rotor winds near ridges, so spotting them prompts updating the forecast to reflect those higher winds aloft. Cumulus clouds point to surface heating and convection rather than a direct aloft wind signal; cirrus clouds show high-altitude moisture and approaching weather but don’t specifically indicate wind strength aloft; altocumulus suggests mid-level cloudiness and potential instability, not a definitive wind cue.