Time Lapse Video & Photo of Lenticular Clouds

[Winnipesaukee]

Right click here and 'save as' to download and view a time lapse video I shot of the really neat Lenticular clouds that were hovering over the mountains throughout much of the day a couple days ago.

Here is a higher quality still shot:

[CaluWxBill]

Right click here and 'save as' to download and view a time lapse video I shot of the really neat Lenticular clouds that were hovering over the mountains throughout much of the day a couple days ago.

Quite Fantastic

[Stormsfury]

Awesome, Winnipesaukee ...

Next time, there's some auroras, get some time lapse video!!

[Anonymous]

[quote="Winnipesaukee"]Right click here and 'save as' to download and view a time lapse video I shot of the really neat Lenticular clouds that were hovering over the mountains throughout much of the day a couple days ago.

We actually had some lenticular clouds here as well on that day which is rare for us. Must've been some good waves coming off of the Monadnocks.

[Rainband]

cool pics. Thanks

[Anonymous]

Awesome video, Winni.

BTW, seeing as you live in an area that experiences the lenticular clouds, I'd like to get your opinion on these photos I took a few days ago in the western NC mountains. Stormsfury already commented last night and seemed to think that the first was lenticular while the second was not; I also posted these at WeatherUnderground where someone from the Colo. Front Range sent me a message saying they thought the second one was lenticular as well.

http://community.webshots.com/photo/132 ... 7668LkyoBq

http://community.webshots.com/photo/132 ... 7746vYyufB

[Winnipesaukee]

Awesome video, Will.
BTW, seeing as you live in an area that experiences the lenticular clouds, I'd like to get your opinion on these photos I took a few days ago in the western NC mountains. Stormsfury already commented last night and seemed to think that the first was lenticular while the second was not; I also posted these at WeatherUnderground where someone from the Colo. Front Range sent me a message saying they thought the second one was lenticular as well.
http://community.webshots.com/photo/132 ... 7668LkyoBq
http://community.webshots.com/photo/132 ... 7746vYyufB

I'd say the second one is Lenticular- but I'm no cloud expert. Was it moving along with the general flow or was it fairly stationary? If it wasn't moving much, it probably was Lenticular.

And the video is mine, not Wills.

[Anonymous]

I'd say the second one is Lenticular- but I'm no cloud expert. Was it moving along with the general flow or was it fairly stationary? If it wasn't moving much, it probably was Lenticular.

Thanks for the opinion. Didn't really get a chance to observe it for very long... in fact, it was taken from out the car window and five minutes later we were miles away and mountains were obscuring the view of it. I am also inclined to think it was lenticular, as it was a generally clear day with only a few clouds like this scattered throughout the mountains.

And the video is mine, not Wills.

Wow, I'm an idiot... don't know what else to say.

[Stephanie]

What is Lenticular? That video was awesome and so were those pics. I don't recall seeing clouds like that. Are they rare?

[Anonymous]

What is Lenticular? That video was awesome and so were those pics. I don't recall seeing clouds like that. Are they rare?

Stormsfury made a great post on this last night when I posted my photos:

http://www.storm2k.org/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=27654 (scroll down to the third post)

They are found exclusively over mountains and are pretty rare from what I understand; it's no surprise that a NJ resident hasn't seen them . Naturally, they are more abundant over the Rockies than the Apps because of the higher peaks.

[Stephanie]

Wow! I love the expamples that he provided as well! You definately did get lucky.

My father lives in Colorado Springs and I visit him annually. I hope that I am lucky enough to see them sometime when I go out there. They are so cool!

[Anonymous]

Just going by pictures I'd say both are lenticular. The 2nd one isn't a textbook example, but it definitely appears to have a UFO-like signature to it. It may even be another mid-level cloud with a lenticular enhancement to it.

[Sean in New Orleans]

What exactly causes lenticular clouds over the mountains? I've seen them before, but, don't know much about them other than interaction with elevation...

[Anonymous]

What exactly causes lenticular clouds over the mountains? I've seen them before, but, don't know much about them other than interaction with elevation...

As the wind blows over mountains it creates vertical waves downstream in the air. Where the air is rising in this wave a cloud can form and on the descending side it dissipates. The result is a UFO shaped cloud which stays in the same place. As long as the wave stays in the same position and there's enough moisture the cloud will continue to hover in the same position as the air rushes through it. There can actually be additional lenticular clouds downwind from the original ones which can create rows of them.

These clouds are believed to be the reason for many UFO sightings in the White Mountain region of NH.

[Stormsfury]

Lenticular clouds definitely can be easily mistaken for UFO's.

[Winnipesaukee]

One of my favorite cloud photos, taken by the Mt. Washington observatory.

[Stormsfury]

Whoa! Nice Pic ..

[Guest]

Very nice pics guy's!

[Anonymous]

One of my favorite cloud photos, taken by the Mt. Washington observatory.

That is just awesome beyond words!

[pawlee]

your video is absolutely incredible!!! in watching it a few times, did anyone notice the shutter on the window banging back and forth? looks like one heckuva windy day up your way... p

(btw, that still shot looks like a calender scenic. what type of camera do you have?)