AbstractConvective and mesoscale processes can be diagnosed in some detail by careful scrutiny of high‐resolution satellite imagery. An example is presented in which lines of convergence within warm, moist, low‐level air created a series of very straight rope‐like clouds whose smooth texture, as seen by polar orbiting satellite imagery, indicated that they were capped by a stable lid. The moist air deepened with time until the lid was penetrated and deep convection was observed to break out. The rope‐like clouds occurred near the leading edge of a so‐called dry intrusion and they are believed to have been associated with the kind of multiple cold frontal structure often encountered in suc