Spectacular Ashfall Sunset

Stepping out around 8PM and seeing an unusual altocumulus pattern in the upper atmosphere, I immediately recognized it as debris generated by Russia's Sarychev Peak volcano which erupted back on June 12th. Ash and sulphur compounds from this eruption had been circling the higher latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere but not as much in the lower latitudes. We are currently in a northwest flow pattern which is being aided by a cutoff low over Canada that is drawing cool air as well as circulating ashfall into our region. I headed out at dusk with Ava to just SE of Latham IL. So long as we remain in a favorable upper air pattern with low humidity and limited cloud cover, this may very well be a common evening sight for awhile.











To verify, this was the current infrared satellite image. Cirrus clouds are cold and would show up as white but as you see, the state is blank.


Visible satellite on the other hand shows a faint slug of discoloration across the central section. Note how it is of close magnitude to the cloud on the KS/NB border yet nothing on the IR scan above unlike the cloud which appears.


Clearly visible on water vapor imagery which measures particulates. Note the cutoff low over Lake Superior that is spinning like a conveyor belt and drawing drier air into the upper Midwest and down into the Tennessee Valley regions. Much of the milky discoloration in those areas that are cloud free in the IR scan is ashfall.