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May 25, 2026 - Clouds over Angola
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An unusual—and spectacular—cloud pattern signaled troubled weather over Angola in mid-May 2026. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite acquired this true-color image of wispy clouds on May 21.
Although these gray streaks in the sky may resemble plumes of smoke from wildfires, they are actually a type of thin, elongated cloud. Called “transverse cirrus” clouds, they are often associated with intense weather on the edge of a storm or front. In this case a strong frontal system was moving across the western coast of southern Africa, bringing a threat of severe storms to Angola, Zimbabwe, and Botswana.
In general, transverse cirrus bands occur at the edge of large thunderstorm systems, or perpendicular to a jet stream, or even along the perimeter of cyclones. Exactly why they form is unclear. The same physical conditions, however, frequently give rise to clear air turbulence, which can be hazardous to aircraft. Given that, the presence of transverse cirrus bands is a clue to aviation forecasters that difficult-to-detect turbulence could be nearby.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Terra
Date Acquired: 5/21/2026
Resolutions:
1km (367.7 KB), 500m (875.2 KB), 250m (1.2 MB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
An unusual—and spectacular—cloud pattern signaled troubled weather over Angola in mid-May 2026. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite acquired this true-color image of wispy clouds on May 21.
Although these gray streaks in the sky may resemble plumes of smoke from wildfires, they are actually a type of thin, elongated cloud. Called “transverse cirrus” clouds, they are often associated with intense weather on the edge of a storm or front. In this case a strong frontal system was moving across the western coast of southern Africa, bringing a threat of severe storms to Angola, Zimbabwe, and Botswana.
In general, transverse cirrus bands occur at the edge of large thunderstorm systems, or perpendicular to a jet stream, or even along the perimeter of cyclones. Exactly why they form is unclear. The same physical conditions, however, frequently give rise to clear air turbulence, which can be hazardous to aircraft. Given that, the presence of transverse cirrus bands is a clue to aviation forecasters that difficult-to-detect turbulence could be nearby.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Terra
Date Acquired: 5/21/2026
Resolutions:
1km (367.7 KB), 500m (875.2 KB), 250m (1.2 MB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
