The Wedding Cake Storm
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The Wedding Cake Storm

by Michiel Baatsen

A mature supercell has been roaming across the high plains of eastern Colorado for over six hours. When a storm persists for such a long time, it has complete control of its surroundings and acquires incredible structure. The updraft base has become rain-wrapped and looks like a multi-layered column of clouds, which among storm chasers is occasionally referred to as a 'wedding cake'.