"Mother Nature's Rapture"

We've been having some pretty spectacular storms this summer and on

this day the local TV station was warning that our area could have

severe thunder storms and possible tornadoes, which are very rare in

this area, so of course I had to run out in my front yard and watch

the skies. The cloud formations were absolutely bizarre, lightning

would flash out of them in multiple flashes like fireworks. Does

anyone know what this type of cloud formation is called?

Fine photo of nature's power and drama. well exposed over a wide range of light. The kind of thing I wish I'd taken. They are mammatous clouds, so named for the mammary appearance caused by strong downdrafts just above cloud layer.

I just knew someone on PN would be able to tell me what kind of clouds these strange apparitions were. They just kept rolling overhead in marshmellow puffs, migthy amazing.

Great shot Susan. I don't know what kind of clouds these are but you certainly photographed them well.

Hmmmm.... I think I've seen this somewhere before. Anyway, Bill probably has that name right, because it is an apt description. Sure reminds me of bubble wrap though. Keen image and I like the way you have let the sky take almost all of the frame. Now keep on posting. You are on a roll.

I have never seen clouds such as these, nor have I ever seen a photograph of such clouds. I think maybe you created them with PhotoShop during all this time that you have not posted any images.

This is a very spectacular sight and I'm sure you and S-Joe had goose-bumps just watching the show.

The clouds are cumulo mammatus and are the result of downdrafts. They are frequently found in association with tornado development. One of the strangest incidents of cumulo mammatus was downstream from the St. Helen's eruption in 1980, when falling ash clouds formed cumulo mammatus formations.

 

http://www.boreme.com/boreme/funny-2005/mammatus-clouds-p1.php

 

John

Dear Susan, what a dramatic sky. I have never seen clouds like that.. wonderfully composed, too, cheers Jana

Wow, Susan...I've never seen anything like that before! Thanks, John Ellington, for the link...amazing! Susan, it's great that you used almost the entire frame for the sky...Big Sky country deserves BIG space! :) Especially when it generates such interesting sights as this. thank for sharing.

 

Leslie

OH WOW!!!!!! That's amazing!! Talk about big sky!! This is amazing!!

 

Are the fires in Montana anywhere near you?

To have a few shots of the fires in western Montana - just passin' thru ma'am ... (-;

Interstate 90 - around 7pm ...

Just snaps taken from the Interstate - at about 70 mph ...

There are no fires in this area at this time but I'd sure like everyone to be thinking good thoughts for Juan de Santa Anna and Randi, they had to evacuate from their home over by Seeley Lake 'cause a big fire is headed their way, I haven't heard from Juan yet whether their home is safe or not. Tis fire season and with all the rain this Spring we've got lot's of fuel for the fires.

Those darn fires! Susan, this is a great image of these clouds! Here's my version taken in June from a raft on the Green River. I looked them up on the internet when I got home. Bob (hubby) also has photos of this kind from last fall when he was elk hunting. This was my first sighting of them. Weird, huh?

One of your best shots ever, Susan! Wonderful composition and exposure. Just superb! Loved all of the interesting posts attached here too. The whole west is on fire right now, take care and stay in touch. Cheers! Chris

WOW! These have to be the weirdest cloud formations ever! I think if I saw these I might run for cover... who knows... an alien spaceship might come out of them and decide to do experiments on me. ;-) Cheers, J

Almost looks like an upside-down tray of cotton candy that the vendors sell at the ballpark!

....what's the saying..."Never underestimate Mother Nature"!

Great shot Susan.

J

I'm so glad Kim that you posted another shot of similar clouds, I was worried folks might of thought I was hallucinating.

 

Hi Chris, yup fires all over, we've been grading fire trails around all the buildings here on the ranch.

 

I did run for cover J Perez, there was lots of lightning coming out of those weird clouds!

 

They did look like cottoncandy GungaJim, and I also thought they looked like xrays of intestines.....yuck.

Oh Janis, Mother Natures a good friend of mine and she blesses me daily.

Great shot of a natural but relatively rare phenomenon; your exposure was right on. While I did get to the Missouri River and Square Butte around 7/4, my horseback trip through the Bob Marshall Wilderness has been cancelled because of the fires. They won't be out until the snows come.

Hello from the smoke and flame zone....alive and kicking...when you got a few minutes to grab valuables...an external hard drive or two is alot easier than boxes of negatives...sadly a truth. fortunatly nothing for now has been lost...except for a ton of sleep...The heroes in the water bombers and the folks in yellow have slowed this fire goddess down...

Hey this looks like it was taken the same night I was in Billings just a couple of hours south of you...Nice job! I have mine from that same night to share with ya... nice to see you are still treating the masses with your visions...

Juan

Juan, sorry to hear about the fire danger...I hope they are able to continue to hold it off. Stay safe!

 

Leslie

Everyone's packing up and fleeing from the fire and Juan is shooting pictures! Fantastic one's I might add.