We were climbing to go VMC on top and at about 5000 feet thought this would be best avoided! Any idea what and how it is formed. Is it best avoided and if so is one likely to get something like this embedded and be unable to see it until too late.
Just looks like wave cloud to me.
My photograph was taken just east of Maastrich a few days ago. Over a flat plain with no oragraphic disturbance, it did get my attention.
That is interesting – I’ve never seen this without some pretty obvious terrain around.
The waves continue well downwind of any terrain. Very much best avoided – some nasty turbulence may lurk nearby.
You can see wave clouds tens of miles downwind of the mountains. The turbulence is not usually in the lenticular itself but the rotor which is nearby.
The waves continue well downwind of any terrain. Very much best avoided – some nasty turbulence may lurk nearby.
The opposite in fact. These waves occurs because the wind is stratified. They pose no problem or danger, and the updraft (and downdraft) can get very strong. They are basically free lifts for anyone to use.
Well we have some differing opinions and if the up and down drafts can get very strong I think my a/p would complain a bit so steer clear seems to be the best advice.
Glider pilots use waves as free lifts to very high altitudes. Obviously they know on which side to fly and they fly VFR with the goal of making altitude.
To the IFR pilot who is expected to maintain altitude those waves are negative and strong turbulence.
