Mammatus clouds, often mistaken for foreboding signs of impending doom, are actually captivating marvels that decorate the sky. These mysterious cloud formations manifest as smooth, bulbous protrusions beneath various cloud types, adding an element of mystique to the atmosphere.
Their enigmatic nature extends to their appearance, which can range from being opaque to translucent, creating a stunning kaleidoscope of colors in photographs. While it’s common for mammatus clouds to appear alongside storms, they are innocent bystanders, not responsible for severe weather events.
These ethereal formations are typically positioned in front of or behind storms, enhancing their allure as nature’s own decorative embellishments in the theater of the sky. Mammatus clouds are a testament to the captivating beauty and intricacy of our ever-fascinating atmosphere.
#1 The photograph taken by Ann Evans of mammatus clouds
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#3 Mammatus clouds in San Antonio, TX – 2009
#4 Sunset mammatus clouds over Texas Panhandle, USA, on May 23rd, 2016
#5 Mammatus clouds over Istra, Croatia, on Aug 3rd, 2014. Photo: Marko Korošec
#6 Mammatus clouds over northeast Montana, USA, on June 19th, 2015. Photo: Marko Korošec
#7 Mammatus clouds near Granada, Colorado, USA, on June 11th, 2015. Photo: Marko Korošec
#8 Mammatus clouds near Granada, Colorado, USA, on June 11th, 2015. Photo: Marko Korošec
#9 Sunset mammatus clouds over Primorska Region (Slovenia) as seen from the Italian karst on August 17th, 2020. Photo by Renato R. Colucci
#10 In the skies of Argentina ☁️
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#12 Mammatus clouds have a very distinctive ‘bubbly’ appearance.
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