six hours in nevada -- tribute to the lost children Sagebrush and Lenticular Clouds: The Crest of Nevada's Virginia Mountains

This is what it looks like from near the crest of the dry Virginia

mountains, the firsr range to the East of the Sierra, which sucks

the moisture out of the air, leaving only enough for sage brush

to 'prosper', and only at high altitudes. These unusual clouds are

storm clouds 'squashed' as they move at high speed between the jet

stream and the high mountains and they are called lenticular clouds.

Your ratings and critiques are invited and most welcome. If you

submit a harsh or very critical remark, please submit a helpful and

constructive comment/Please share your superior photographic

knowledge.) Thanks! Enjoy! John

It actually is a feature of lenticular clouds that when the streams of air that flow over mountains are compresssed, so are the cloud formations, so the tops and bottoms of the clouds seem to be compressed and 'follow the contours' of the mountains more, particularly on stormy days or days in which upper atmosphere winds are stronger (not always stormy days).

Those who live near the Cascades, Sierra and other Western mountains are more familiar with such cloud formations -- these are far from perfect examples -- some are almost exactly 'round' and often are found solo around peaks such as Mt. Shasta, Mt. Lassen, etc., where there is much upper atmosphere turbulence around the peak.

I'm glad you saw the resemblance -- it's key to the photo.

John