Radiatus

Definition

A cloud variety in which bands or elements are arranged in parallel lines that, because of perspective, appear to converge towards a point on the horizon. The bands are physically parallel; the convergence is an optical effect.

Field note

Radiatus almost always indicates a strongly sheared layer, and it is common ahead of a warm front. Its apparent convergence point is on the horizon in the direction of the shear vector, not the direction the front is coming from.

Related terms

• Undulatus · undulatus
• Altocumulus · Altocumulus
• Stratocumulus · Stratocumulus