Strange Cloud Formation (Sacramento CA)

CBS Local ^ | December 1, 2010

[TaraP]

Viewers sent photos of a strange cloud formation over the Sacramento-area skies Wednesday afternoon.

The National Weather Service says the phenomenon is called a “hole punch cloud,” which are frequently caused by passing jets.

[US_MilitaryRules]

mares tail

[BIGLOOK]

Looks to me more like a lenticular cloud, coming off the mountains and not cause by air craft.

[IYellAtMyTV]

That formation is called a circumhorizontal arc. Heres a couple of pics I shot from my yard four years ago. Didn't have an earthquake though :-)

[NorwegianViking]

Those are great pictures! Glad you were able to catch those images. I have read that the various colors in the clouds that cause the rainbow effect are possibly from aircraft fuel or other chemicals. If one looks down on an oily water puddle, those same colors are created.

[ElkGroveDan]

There is one house in the Sacramento area that hasn’t insulated the attic, right Dan?

I was testing my multi-dimensional vortex inducer, when a black helicopter flew over. The chopper and it's occupants are now wandering around a planet in orbit around Beta Cetauri C. Unfortunately, the vortex did leave a hole in the clouds. Sorry everyone.

[Salamander]

So when it rains, the collective consciousness is spitting on me?

Figures.

[shibumi]

And when the sky is clear, everybody’s asleep ..... or watching The View.

[ReignOfError]

“It’s a missile!” posts begin in 3 ... 2 ...

[GladesGuru]

Could you test your multi-dimensional vortex inducer over DC?

Just wonderin’.

[Hunton Peck]

The clouds are veiled thought forms of what like people - you know Dude? - like what people have in their heads - and like.........wow!.

[The Californian]

We saw this or something exactly like this this afternoon. We are in the Sierra Nevada foothills a couple of hundred miles east from Sacramento.

[50mm]

...or watching The View...

and waiting for RAPTURE!

[caww]

Nothing new about these...you can google lots of them worldwide...and explanations of the types of clouds these are. But it does entertain those who seek the unusual....I think God has a great sense of humor as He plays with us.

[caww]

I saw clouds as this just two weeks ago coming out of the supermarket...couple others also noted...very neat!

[bannie]

I thought only California had “illegal fireplaces”!

[caww]

Saw one of these...interesting no doubt. Only once in my lifetime though...also saw a storm in a single cloud on a sky blue day. That was really entertaining to watch!

[txhurl]

LOL

Joe, you got beat!

[shibumi]

The Rapture is Here!

(Pardon me, I have to go walk my goat.)

[zeugma]

Lenticulars rock. APOD seems to like them. (google: apod lenticular)

[Hunton Peck]