Southern Deep Freeze Creates Mesmerizing “Cloud Streets”

Phenomena: Cloud formations, Horizontal convective rolls
Satellite: GOES-19 (GOES East)
Product: GeoColor
Instrument: Advanced Baseline Imager 
Date: Feb. 01, 2026 (13:36 UTC) - Feb. 01, 2026 (19:46 UTC) 

The recent Arctic blast that prompted freeze warnings as far south as southern Florida also created a captivating phenomenon over the waters of the Gulf and Atlantic on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026. NOAA’s GOES East satellite captured long, parallel bands of clouds called horizontal convective rolls. 

Better known as “cloud streets,” these formations can develop when cold, dry air flows over relatively warmer water. As the air absorbs heat and moisture from below, rows of long, parallel lines of cumulus clouds form, usually aligned with the wind direction. In the satellite imagery above, a gap of clear skies is visible between the coastline and where the cloud streets begin. That’s due to the time and distance it takes the cold air to pick up the heat and moisture from the water to form clouds.

The frigid air that plunged southward on Sunday was some of the coldest that Florida has seen in years. Temperatures dropped to 23 degrees F. in Winter Haven, 29 degrees in Tampa, 30 degrees in West Palm Beach and 35 degrees in Miami.

Check out more imagery of cloud streets from NOAA’s satellites here. 

The GOES-19 geostationary satellite, also known as GOES East, keeps watch over most of North America, including the contiguous United States and Mexico, as well as Central and South America, the Caribbean, and the Atlantic Ocean. The satellite's high-resolution imagery provides optimal viewing of hazardous weather, including severe weather, winter storms, tropical storms and hurricanes.