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.

[50mm]

Cows too?

[shibumi]

[50mm]

These events are sometimes witnessed.

[Salamander]

Heh.

They’re watching the wrong channel, then.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQVzkGpPVzc

[goat granny]

Looks like Northern Lights, cannot spell Aurora borelias...I have seen red Aurora borelias when I was on the farm...beautiful. Son came in from a date and said mom you just have to see this....never saw that color before..It would fade in and out and move in the sky. Not stationary..like a living thing...

[goat granny]

Thats a new one to me, could you try to describe it...sounds interesting...

[goat granny]

Was working at Pontiac General Hospital when we went on red alert for a tornado touchdown the sky was all green, its the only time I've seen a green sky. That's when the hospital went on red alert. It was a dark and ominous green color...

[TXnMA]

You saw a hole cloud or a parhelion?

Parhelia (commonly called "sun dogs") come in pairs (usually to the left and right of the sun at a distance of 22 degrees) and form in high, thin clouds that are composed of tiny ice crystals.

That "standalone" storm you saw is also the most dangerous kind. Unlike T'storms in a front line, they can draw energy from all the surrounding air -- instead of having to "share" it with adjacent storms. Tornado factories!

Saw one of those "supercells" from the parking lot of Carlsbad Caverns, NM -- which is high up on a one-time seashore. The storm moved across the flat former seabed (now desert) below and to the south, and the falling rain and hail shafts were clearly visible. As it moved on, it left a dark, wet "footprint" behind it across the desert. The top must have been near 35,000 feet. Lots of lightning and noise -- quite a spectacle (when watched from a safe distance...)!!

As a "Skywarn"-trained Ham, I wanted to stay and see if it "dropped" a tornado -- but the rest of the family wanted to tour the caverns in time to be back on top for the evening bat flight. The kids won. ;-)

[The Comedian]

OK-technically-it's-Atmospheric-Energy/Weirdness-so-sue-me ping.

(Thx TaraP)

"Space Energy/Solar Weirdness" ping.

Ping list dealing with odd space phenomena and solar events.

FReepmail me if you want on or off

The Comedian's "Space Energy/Solar Weirdness" ping list...

Frowning takes 68 muscles.
Smiling takes 6.
Pulling this trigger takes 2.
I'm lazy.

[filospinato]

Can’t be, I checked and one of my Baptist buddies upstairs is at work today.

[SunkenCiv]

:’)

[metmom]

Thought you’d like this.