Home
Weather Dublin
WeatherRadar
RainfallRadar
TemperatureRadar
WindRadar
LightningRadar
Weather News
Editor's Pick
Discover the app
Weather widget
Contact us
Apps
    Home / Editor's Pick /

    Hunting the 'lonesome shelf' - Storm chaser's Blog

16:00
27 July 2024

Storm chaser's Blog
Hunting the ‘lonesome shelf’

huntingshelf
© Miloslav Rohacek

Storm chasing is not only about catching the biggest and scariest storms. For this seasoned storm chaser, even smaller ones can bring unexpected beauty.

Weather & Radar's Miloslav Rohacek has spent almost 16 years observing the sky in the heart of Europe and his home country of the Czech Republic.

We love weather!

In the mini series 'Storm chaser's Blog', Weather & Radar's meteorologists share their wildest experiences chasing storms. As avid photographers and storm chasers, their passion for weather is a lifestyle that reaches far beyond work.

"To me, weather observation isn’t just about adrenaline; every novice storm chaser wants to see only the biggest hail and the largest tornadoes.

But as I’ve got older, I’ve realised that there is always something new to observe, whether it’s summer or winter.

shower1
funnel
wintertime
shelf
1/4
Low-topped convective shower from June 7, 2022. - © Miloslav Rohacek

Every convective shower or weak storm can teach us something valuable, which we can apply when observing the stronger ones."

No danger, just beauty

Recently, Milos ventured out to observe some severe thunderstorms that developed over Germany on July 12, 2024, which produced a so-called outflow boundary.

Did you know?

An outflow boundary separates air cooled by thunderstorms from the surrounding warmer air. It is similar to a cold front, typically causing a shift in wind direction and a drop in temperature as it passes. Outflow boundaries can last for over 24 hours after the original thunderstorms have dissipated and can travel hundreds of miles from their origin. New thunderstorms frequently form along these outflow boundaries.

This boundary advanced into central Bohemia. Combined with local showers and high dew points, it created conditions for the development of a massive shelf cloud.

There was no rain or thunder this time, just a huge "lonesome shelf."

A tornado too close for comfortread more
Beginner's luck - the first tornadoread more
Weather & Radar editorial team
More on the topic
Record-breaking heatwave in Europe. New records. . . Thursday 25 June 2026
A map showing extremely high temperatures across Western Europe and a warning symbol. On the right, people cool off at a fountain in front of the Eiffel Tower during the heatwave in Paris.
Thursday 25 June 2026

New records

Record-breaking heatwave in Europe
How to sleep better in warmer weather. Tropical nights ahead. . . Tuesday 23 June 2026
Person sitting on the floor indoors beside a running electric fan, cooling down in a sunlit room during hot weather, with sunlight streaming through a window.
Tuesday 23 June 2026

Tropical nights ahead

How to sleep better in warmer weather
Noctilucent clouds spotted over the UK. Shimmering summer view. . . Monday 29 June 2026
Wispy electric-blue noctilucent clouds glowing above a dark twilight horizon, with rooftops, utility poles, streetlights, and overhead wires silhouetted beneath the night sky.
Monday 29 June 2026

Shimmering summer view

Noctilucent clouds spotted over the UK
All weather news
This might also interest you
Seasonal warmth between spring thunder. Your weather - Your shots. . . Sunday 19 April 2026
Split image showing coastal sunset with layered lenticular clouds over rooftops and palm trees on the left, and a green valley with river and hills under soft daylight on the right.
Sunday 19 April 2026

Your weather - Your shots

Seasonal warmth between spring thunder
Mixed conditions on an unsettled week. Your weather - Your shots. . . Sunday 2 November 2025
plit image showing a double rainbow over a rocky shoreline on the left and sheep grazing in a green field under stormy clouds on the right.
Sunday 2 November 2025

Your weather - Your shots

Mixed conditions on an unsettled week
New records for England and Wales. Broken again tomorrow?. . . Thursday 25 June 2026
Temperature map of southwest Britain on 25.06 showing extreme heat across southern Wales and southwest England, with Bute Park in Cardiff highlighted at 34.2°C and Yeovilton at 36.4°C amid widespread deep red heat zones.
Thursday 25 June 2026

Broken again tomorrow?

New records for England and Wales
All articles
Weather & Radar

Weather & Radar is also available on

Google Play StoreApp Store

Company

Contact us Privacy Policy Legal info Accessibility statement

Services

Uploader

Socials

facebooktwitteryouTubelinkList