Following a tornado, mammatus clouds cover Nebraska.
Source: Commons Wikimedia
This special type of cloud formation is known as mammatus clouds, or mammary clouds, since it is believed that they resemble an animal’s udders. As heated air convects, cold air descends to form pouches, giving rise to these peculiar-looking clouds. Mammatus clouds typically develop after thunderstorms and are seen in association with cirrus, cumulonimbus, and anvil clouds. They’ve also been connected to clouds of volcanic ash. William Clement Ley initially noted this cloud occurrence in 1894. Because mammatus clouds originate in downdrafts, they can pose a threat to pilots.
zi ang