GOES-16 and GOES-13 Comparison of Punch Cloud Over North Carolina

“Punch” or “hole streak” clouds are formed when part of a liquid water cloud glaciates, most likely due to interactions with an airplane. These clouds can be seen in this animation showing the sky over northern North Carolina on February 1, 2017. The visible imagery on the top half is from ABI aboard the recently launched GOES-16, while the visible imagery on the bottom is from the imager aboard GOES-13 (aka: GOES East).

Credit: NOAA/NASA

Note: This is preliminary, non-operational data as GOES-16 undergoes on-orbit testing.