Strange Mushroom Cloud--explain please

[Taffy]

This was seen all over Cape Coral, Florida yesterday. It was really wild looking and something that I have never seen before. Would you explain exactly what we are looking at.. and why it occurred. THanks.
Taffy

[JonathanBelles]

Was there rain on the radar or nearby?

[brunota2003]

That looks like the remnant of a nearby thunderstorm. A lot of times, a storm will leave behind the anvil after it has rained itself out and the anvil can travel a good distance even after the main body of the storm has vanished. These are called orphaned anvils, if I remember correctly.

What it appears to be in the picture is a storm in the final stages of decay, there is still part of the main body visible, and it is probably still producing rain (though the rain would be getting lighter and less spread out). The anvil most likely was the only thing left of that cloud system shortly after that picture was taken.

That's my guess, perhaps if I am wrong someone can correct me.

[Taffy]

I like your guess, there was no rain on the radar except in South Fort Myers,, which was a good 20 miles away. That is probably what it was.. an orphaned anvil. Way cool

[brunota2003]

I like your guess, there was no rain on the radar except in South Fort Myers,, which was a good 20 miles away. That is probably what it was.. an orphaned anvil. Way cool

Here you go, if you type in "orphaned anvil", it doesn't give you many hits...it is called "Orphan Anvil" (correction on my part)

http://www.weatherscapes.com/album.php? ... phan_anvil

Those look similar to your cloud?

[wxman57]

Yep, just a dissipating thunderstorm.