Abstract
TIROS-VII and -VIII photographs are used to study synoptic and mesoscale cloud patterns during 6 days with strong southerly flow in the Central United States. Cases with nocturnal thunderstorms show a tendency for thunderstorms to occur in the downstream portion of the jet. Through advection of moisture and turbulent breakdown of the nocturnal inversion, the low-level jet plays an important role both in the formation of stratus and in its manner of dissipation. Longitudinal cumulus cloud bands with spacing of 10 to 15 km occur with slightly superadiabatic lapse rates and moderate wind shear in agreement with theoretical results by Kuo.
