Cloud Lines Stretch Out Over Florida Coast

NOAA released a striking image from space that captures long, straight cloud bands moving off the southern Florida shoreline. The picture was taken on February 1 when a cold air mass slid south over the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic, drawing moisture from the warmer sea surface to form neat cloud strips that align with the wind.

What Are Cloud Streets?

These “cloud streets” occur when chilly air slides over warm water, picking up vapor and turning it into low clouds that appear in parallel rows. The effect is most visible when the temperature difference between air and water is large—exactly what happened in Tampa, where temperatures dropped to a chilly 30 °F (–1 °C).

A Visual Wake of Weather

The satellite footage resembles the wake of a fast boat: clear water visible next to the cloud line. That clear stretch indicates areas where the air has not yet absorbed enough moisture to create clouds, creating a sharp contrast between clouded and clear zones.

A Beautiful Display of Atmospheric Dynamics

The February photo showcases how dynamic the interaction between cold air and warm water can be, turning a simple weather pattern into an organized display of cloud lines that science helps us understand.