Lenticular clouds have been said to be mistaken for UFOs; as many of these clouds have the shape of a "flying saucer", with a characteristic "lens" or smooth, "saucer-like" shape.
What is a lenticular cloud look like?
These lens-shaped clouds typically form where stable moist air flows over a mountain or a range of mountains. … When this happens, a series of large-scale standing waves may form on the mountain's downwind side.
Are lenticular clouds rare?
If you don't live in close proximation to mountains, you might think lenticular clouds are rare. But if you're situated in a mountainous region, or on the leeward side of a mountain range, the chances of seeing lenticularis clouds increases significantly.
What do lenticular clouds mean?
A lenticular cloud is a lens-shaped cloud that normally develops on the downwind side of a mountain or mountain range. This occurs when stable, moist air flows over a mountain, creating a series of oscillating waves.
What are the 3 unusual clouds?
8 Strange Cloud Types and What They Mean
- Lenticular Cloud. They won't beam you up. …
- Fallstreak Hole. A fallstreak hole with a threatening aura over Naples, Italy. …
- Kelvin-Helmholtz Cloud. Gnarly! …
- Roll Cloud. Morning Glory clouds near the Gulf of Carpentaria. …
- Anvil Cloud. …
- Asperitas Cloud. …
- Nacreous Cloud. …
- Mammatus Cloud.
3 days ago
What are spiral clouds?
Add in a lot of wind shear between the bottom and the top of the cloud, which is a change of speed or direction with height, and the air was essentially rotating on a horizontal axis, making the cloud have a cool spiral, or helix shape.
What does the nimbus cloud look like?
A nimbus cloud is dark and already has rain or snow falling from it. These clouds can be puffy or look like a blanket, but they are always dark and usually seen during a thunderstorm along with thunder and lightning.
What is the rarest cloud?
Kelvin Helmholtz Waves are perhaps the rarest cloud formation of all. Rumored to be the inspiration for Van Gogh's masterpiece “Starry Night”, they are incredibly distinctive. They are mainly associated with cirrus, altocumulus, and stratus clouds over 5,000m.
What is a TCU cloud?
Cumulus clouds are very common, especially in warm and moist climates. … When a cumulus cloud is much taller than it is wide, it is often called a towering cumulus (TCU) cloud. The taller these clouds are, the more likely they are to produce showers, and sometimes waterspouts.