Not As Bad As It Looks

This photogenic cumulus structure looked a lot more menacing than it really was in this view looking west from Bowman Woods Park in Cedar Rapids, Iowa just before 8:00 PM on Wednesday, June 20, 2012 (summer solstice). The "scarecrow" cloud was a classic example of dry conditions all season that have prevailed in the eastern part of the state, inhibiting storm formation energy. The small cell slid west of town and quickly died out. In the background is Bowman Woods Elementary School.