I witnessed what appeared to be a Lenticular Altocumulus cloud but there were only hills around me. I mean, they were very high hills but not tall enough to me mountains. I live on the edge of the Appalachian Mountains but I do not think that they were high enough to produce Lenticular clouds. My question is, how high does a hill or mountain have to be to produce a Lenticular cloud?
Thank you.
✅ Answers
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A ‘lennie’ is a standing wave cloud whose edges have been ‘smoothed’ by high speed wind.
There may have been only hills around your location but the mountains located well upwind were plenty tall enough to generate a standing wave of AC. These waves are often observed many…many miles downwind from the mountains.
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Were these clouds observed on /?
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Source(s): Meteorologist.
I can confirm that writing of the two honourable Top Contributors above: the rolling air that shapes a lenticular cloud can be found far away on the lee side of mountains or hills. As the owner an pilot of a very light aircraft, I can assure you that they are felt a long way! We call them, rotors and while glider pilots will look for them to take the rising side to gain altitude, we – motorized airmen – would rather do without them. The are rather turbulent.
There is no specific height needed. How much the air must be lifted to form these clouds depends on how close to saturation the air is initially before being lifted. The closer to saturation, the less it needs to be lifted. The Apps are high enough that ACSL (Altocumulus standing lenticulars) can be produced if the air is close to being saturated at the start.
Source(s): I’m a meteorologist
Lenticular clouds are not always dependent on the proximity of mountains or high hills.
Source(s): Personal observation.