Last night, while I was trying to figure out why my internet connection died (thanks Time-Warner), I noticed a bright white cloud to the south. Usually nighttime clouds are a jaundiced yellow, not bright white. It was also a standing cloud. Instead of moving with the wind it was staying put, forming on the right side and dying on the left. Bright white standing clouds aren't that common so I took a few long-exposure pictures. To add to the unusualness, I got lucky and captured a semi-rare cloud formation known as a Kelvin-Helmholtz cloud.
You can see the waves on the right in the bottom photo (which is a blow up of the middle picture). Usually these clouds form downwind of a mountain range. Last night they would have been forming between the denser dry air near the ground and warm, humid air above. Interesting!
That is amazing. And, your knowledge of Kelvin-Helmholtz is quite impressive. This has been one strange July as far as weather goes.
Posted by: Marie | 24 July 2006 at 11:50 PM
Ah, my Time Warner was down too. Somehow, I am comforted knowing it was not just my building.
Great photos!
Posted by: harlemfur | 24 July 2006 at 11:54 PM
Thanks! Every once in a while I remember something from school. You folks in Springfield have had more than your share of the odd weather lately.
Posted by: Joe | 25 July 2006 at 11:17 PM