Tag Archives: Clouds

Time lapse video captures mountain wave clouds, sunset

Screenshot of an amazing time lapse video showing mountain wave clouds. (YouTube / BasehuntersChasing)
Screenshot of an amazing time lapse video showing mountain wave clouds. (YouTube / BasehuntersChasing)

Watching clouds in real time can be fascinating however it is when they are sped up via time lapse that we can oftentimes truly see the subtle motions that we otherwise miss. A time lapse video released by some local storm chasers provide a stunning visual of wave clouds near Boulder.

Posted to YouTube today by Basehunters Chasing, the video showcases scenes captured over a couple of days along the Front Range.

Rolling mountain wave clouds serve as a backdrop to cows in a field.  Watching closely, snow can be seen falling on the highest mountain peaks.  Zoomed in views of a wave cloud follow showing the amazing motion.

Lastly a sunset is seen with the clouds starting pastel orange, then turning brilliant bright orange before fading away.

The video is set to a very soothing flute-type instrumental.  Check it out below.

Photo: Bald eagle and afternoon iridescent clouds

One of our friends was hanging out along the South Platte again this afternoon.  Had to shoot pictures into the sun but with the iridescent clouds in the background it looks really cool.

Cloud iridescence is caused by clouds (usually cirrus) that have small water droplets or ice crystals in them causing the light to be diffracted, or spread out. The phenomena is much like the rainbow colors seen with oil in water.

Remember we are always looking for pics of just about anything to add to our monthly slideshow.  Be sure to email or post them so we can add them. Check out this month’s slideshow here.

A bald eagles rests in a tree along the South Platte River. (ThorntonWeather.com)
A bald eagles rests in a tree along the South Platte River. (ThorntonWeather.com)

Time lapse video provides stunning view of rolling, bubbling clouds over the Rockies

One of our favorite pastimes is simply watching the clouds.  Colorado’s widely varying weather provides a stunning variety in almost every season.  One photographer captured an amazing time lapse video of what he called “Bubbly Rocky Mountain Clouds.”

Watch the video below.  Just beautiful!

Bubbly Rocky Mountain Clouds from David Harpe on Vimeo.

Thornton sees beautiful sunset, unusual cloud formations

A circular formation on the bottom of a cloud punctuates Thornton's sunset on Thursday, January 5, 2012. (ThorntonWeather.com)
A circular formation on the bottom of a cloud punctuates Thornton's sunset on Thursday, January 5, 2012. (ThorntonWeather.com)

The past week has brought some beautiful sunrises and sunsets to the Colorado Front Range.  The evening of Thursday, January 5, 2012 was no exception as Thornton was treated to an amazing display.

Wave clouds are formed by atmospheric ‘waves’ of wind flowing up and down mountains.  Here in Colorado we have had a pretty consistent wave cloud hovering over the Denver metro area this past week.

On Thursday evening, this cloud was present and lit up in shades of orange and red as the sun set behind the Rocky Mountains.  What made the beautiful scene amazing was an unusual circular formation in the bottom of the cloud.

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Below are images we took of the clouds at about 5:20pm yesterday.

Sunday brings brilliant sunrise and clouds to Thornton

A brilliant sunrise over south Thornton. View more images in the slideshow below. (ThorntonWeather.com)
A brilliant sunrise over south Thornton. View more images in the slideshow below. (ThorntonWeather.com)

A very chilly morning yielded a beautiful sunrise over south Thornton this morning.  ThorntonWeather.com was out for a walk and captured images of the brilliant red sky near the Spratt Lake facility. 

With mostly clear skies temperatures Sunday morning dipped clear down to 14.7 degrees – the coldest day we have seen this season.  Thankfully we will be warming up to above normal temperatures today as the forecast calls for a high of 54 degrees.

The images this morning not only include the spectacular sunrise but also lenticular and wave clouds.  

Lenticular clouds are one of the least common types and typically only occur at high altitudes near mountains with strong winds – both of which Colorado has in abundance.  These virtually stationary lens-shaped formations have been mistaken for UFO’s due to their rare appearance and unique saucer shapes. 

Also known by their scientific name of altocumulus standing lenticularis, these clouds are not entirely unusual in Colorado on the Front Range during the winter.  Strong jet winds force moist air to be pushed up by the rugged terrain of the adjacent Rocky Mountains.  This creates a wave-like pattern of air flow that condenses at high altitudes (usually around 20,000 feet). 

Below is a slideshow of some of the images we took this morning.

Lenticular clouds appear over Denver

These stacked lenticular clouds hovered over Denver on the evening of December 8th. View more photos in the slideshow by clicking on the image. Photo: Alycia Gilliland
These stacked lenticular clouds hovered over Denver on the evening of December 8th. View more photos in the slideshow by clicking on the image. Photo: Alycia Gilliland

Colorado is home to many weather phenomena which is certainly part of its appeal.  Our topography and geographic location allow us to experience a true four seasons and every type of weather. 

Yesterday if you turned your eyes skyward you were treated to an amazing display of lenticular clouds, an unusual formation but one for which Colorado is a prime viewing spot.

Storm chaser and meteorology student Alycia Gilliland has captured some stunning photos in recent months of the sky and yesterday’s display provided another opportunity.  As the sun began its decent late yesterday afternoon, Gilliland turned her camera skyward to capture beautiful images of “stacked” lenticulars. 

Click on the image to the right to view a slideshow of Gilliland’s photos.  You can learn more about lenticular clouds in our story on the Denver Weather Examiner.

NCAR scientists determine planes can punch holes in clouds

An example of a hole-punch cloud over Alabama. (Alan Sealls, WKRG-TV / NCAR)
An example of a hole-punch cloud over Alabama. (Alan Sealls, WKRG-TV / NCAR)

Mysterious, almost UFO-looking, clouds have fascinated viewers from the ground for decades. Now, scientists at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder have determined that planes can ‘punch holes’ in clouds and perform the equivalent of cloud seeding.

Andrew Heymsfield, a scientist at NCAR, said that given the right conditions, planes climbing or descending can cause the atmospheric phenomena known as hole-punch, or canal clouds. When they do, they create unusual cloud formations and can cause rain and snow to develop.

Scientists have long speculated about the cause of the unusual ‘holes’ in the clouds and had attributed them to various aviation-related causes, none of which were conclusive.

The scientists at NCAR determined that water droplets at 5 degrees Fahrenheit (-15 degrees Celsius) are the key factor. When a plane flies through these droplets, the air behind it is cooled and the droplets freeze and fall toward the Earth.

There's more to this story on Examiner.com!Get the rest of this story including more photos and video explaining the phenomena at the Denver Weather Examiner!