Cumulonimbus with mammatusclouds are usually seen during thunderstorms. Mammatus (literally "breast-like clouds") are pouch-like clouds formed by sinking air seen on the underside of a thunderstorm's anvil. This article is about clouds in meteorology. ... A roll cloud associated with a heavy or severe thunderstorm over Enschede, The Netherlands. ... Mammatus clouds in Tulsa, Oklahoma, 1973 Mammatus (also known as mamma or mammatocumulus) is a meteorological term given to a cellular pattern of pouches hanging underneath the base of a cloud. ...
These clouds indicate severe turbulence. Since this strong turbulence represents strong instability in the clouds, it is very common for storms producing mammatus clouds to also produce wind shear and even tornadoes. As a result, pilots are strongly urged to avoid these clouds. Turbulent flow around an obstacle; the flow further away is laminar Laminar and turbulent water flow over the hull of a submarine Turbulence in the tip vortex from an airplane wing In fluid dynamics, turbulence or turbulent flow is a flow regime characterized by low momentum diffusion, high momentum convection... Wind shear is a difference in wind speed and/or direction between two points in the atmosphere. ... A tornado over land. ...
Ball lightning is often seen in combination with this cloud formation. Multiple cloud-to-ground and cloud-to-cloud lightning strokes are observed during a night-time thunderstorm. ...
Cumulonimbus calvus represents a transitional stage between cumulus congestus and a fully fledged cumulonimbus incus.
A cumulonimbus incus formation must always be regarded as a significant aviation hazard because of the powerful air currents involved in its formation and the potentially damaging effect of the large hailstones it may produce.
Mammatus may be observed wherever cumulonimbusclouds occur, but it is particularly common in areas where thunderstorms are severe, such as tropical and subtropical areas.