描述
A storm's updraft pushes warm, moist air originating from the surface through a cooler environment aloft. The troposphere (layer of the atmosphere where weather is present) cools as you rise and warm air parcels rise through this cooler environment (heat rises). Once they hit the level where the temperature of the air parcel meets the temperature of the surrounding atmosphere, the air cannot rise anymore. Since air is still being pushed up, it has to go somewhere, so it goes outward, forming an anvil structure. Think of throwing water at the ceiling. Once you hit the ceiling, the water cannot go through it, so it pancakes out. The same thing happens in this case but at a grander scale. Updrafts powerful enough to do this are what storm chasers seek out since they favor large hail, strong winds, tornadoes and lightning.
This photo was taken on May 25, 2023 in Grady, New Mexico.
