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Several Hole Punch clouds were seen in eastern Kentucky today. A hole punch cloud, often referred to as a Fallstreak Hole, are formed when the water temperature in the clouds is below freezing, but the water has not frozen yet due to the lack of ice nucleation particles.
When ice crystals do form it will set off a domino effect, due to the Bergeron process, causing the water droplets around the crystals to evaporate: this leaves a large, often circular, hole in the cloud. Take a look at this photo from eastern Kentucky earlier today:
Fallstreak holes, or hole punch clouds, witnessed from our office just a little while ago! #kywx pic.twitter.com/F4KciAJGGA
— NWS Jackson, KY (@NWSJacksonKY) January 8, 2015
Here is a look at the hole punch clouds from a satellite view!
The rare “hole punch clouds” seen over KY. Ice crystals causing surrounded supercooled drops to evaporate. #kywx pic.twitter.com/kj4lEFvnON
— NWSCharlestonWV (@NWSCharlestonWV) January 8, 2015