These long, parallel bands of cumulus clouds form along cylinders of rotating air. But first, cold air from the northwest had to pass over the comparatively warmer lake water, imparting warmth and moisture into the rising air mass. Read more about cloud streets and their formation here and here.
References and Related Reading
- EarthSky (2016, January 18) What are cloud streets? Accessed February 12, 2016.
NASA image by Jeff Schmaltz, LANCE/EOSDIS Rapid Response. Caption by Kathryn Hansen.
- Terra - MODIS