Comma Cyclone

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Classic Comma Head Extratropical Cyclone over the Eastern U.S.

This extratropical cyclone shows a classic comma shaped cloud system usually associated with dangerous winter weather. In this picture we are seeing the cyclone in its mature, or occluded, stage, when the storm begins to lose its ability to deepen. Soon this storm will begin to shear into a persistent, cold-core low. This image was taken by GOES East at 1845Z on April 12, 2011. Source: NOAA/NASA GOES Project