How Do Tornadoes Form?
7. Anvil Clouds
An anvil cloud (cumulonimbus incus) is so called because it is shaped like an anvil with a flat surface at the top. They get their shape because of the way that the warming air continues to rise until it reaches the stratosphere. The air in the stratosphere is warmer than the air below, meaning that the cloud can rise no further.
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Thus, the cloud spreads out instead of rising further and develops the characteristic flat top. The force of an updraft will sometimes be enough to push the cloud up through the basement of the stratosphere in what is known as an overshooting top. Clouds with an overshooting top are more likely to produce severe storms and tornadoes.
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