When I was on vacation last year in Central Oregon, I had a farmer tell me that he never cuts hay if clouds are appearing above Mount Hood. He was talking about the same type of strange looking clouds that appeared over our mountains on Thursday evening February 3rd, 2011.
In meteorology we call them Lenticular clouds. But they have a ton of nicknames. UFO clouds. Pancake clouds. Cap clouds. In this awesome shot from the Columbia River Gorge looking back at Mount Hood, it looks like the mountain is wearing a cap, doesn’t it? Finally, a nickname that actually makes sense!
Strange Looking Lenticular Clouds A Sign Of Changing Weather
So what do these Lenticular clouds mean and how do they form? Here are some basics:
- if you see mountains that are cloud free and in the clear, that tells you the atmosphere is quite dry.
- when you see clouds starting to form on top of or just downwind from mountain peaks, that means moisture is increasing in the air. a dry stretch may be ending.
- it may be sunny everywhere else but when moving air hits a mountain peak that air can lift and cool just enough to form a Lenticular cloud.
The strange looking clouds that formed on Thursday definitely were a sign that our dry stretch is coming to an end. If you’ve missed the forecast lately then the changing weather might catch you by surprise.
But that Central Oregon farmer? He already knows rain is in the forecast because he’s been watching the clouds form on top of our Pacific Northwest mountains!
Darlisa Black says
Well written Bruce… and thank you for the honor of using my photos…
there were lenticulars off and off all day, in the morning they were lumpier, and the banner part was longer…perhaps I will send you a shot of that later too just for fun.
by the way Large prints of this image are available for purchase. (is it ok to say that on here?)
Bruce Sussman says
Darlisa–you’ve got such an eye for beautiful pictures. Thanks for sharing them. I am so jealous you’re in ‘lenticular alley’ — what a place to live! Also, no problem mentioning that large prints are for sale. Thanks again for your great work.
Darlisa Black says
Thank you, Bruce! Photography has become my way of finding purpose and beauty again in life… good therapy! Yes, living up in this country feels like a bit of heaven, and the lenticulars are the icing on the cake
. Twice recently we had lennies for 3 days in a row… the last time was before the heavy rains in January
January 4th http://www.flickr.com/photos/starlisa/5331869895/ and http://www.flickr.com/photos/starlisa/5332483912/in/photostream/
January 5th http://www.flickr.com/photos/starlisa/5329827388/in/photostream/
January 6th http://www.flickr.com/photos/starlisa/5348579384/in/photostream/ and http://www.flickr.com/photos/starlisa/5356771884/in/photostream/
January 24th http://www.flickr.com/photos/starlisa/5392282078/in/photostream/#/ and
http://www.flickr.com/photos/starlisa/5392281950/in/photostream/
and then the recent batch like you used above… and a few others I have not had time to process!
Good reporting on the weather, Bruce… my sis and I love watching weather because of you