Did you see it? Rare cloud formations spotted over New Hampshire - Boston 25 News

April 25, 2023

GORHAM, N.H. — Rare and distinct cloud formations that resemble rippling ocean waves were recently spotted in the sky over New Hampshire.

The cloud formations, known as Undulatus Asperitas, have wave-like structures that form on the underside of the cloud to make it look like a rough sea surface when viewed from below, the UK Met Office noted.

Crystal Lee snapped photos of the cloud formations as she traveled through the Coös County town of Gorham.

While the process behind what forms Asperitas formations is largely unknown, theories suggest that their appearance is associated with the "aftermath of convective thunderstorms, though they have also been sighted in relatively calm environments," according to the Met Office.

"Asperitas clouds can be stunning in appearance, unusual in occurrence, and are relatively unstudied," NASA said of the unusual formation. "Speculation, therefore, holds that Asperitas clouds might be related to lenticular clouds that form near mountains, or Mammatus clouds associated with thunderstorms."

The cloud formation was added to the Meteorological Organisation's International Cloud Atlas just a few years ago.

  • CommCat [none/use name]
    ·
    4 months ago

    If I saw that, I would be thinking, "our alien overlords are about to land!"

  • WIIHAPPYFEW [he/him, they/them]
    ·
    edit-2
    4 months ago

    wtf is with New Hampshire weather, first they have a mountain that hits hurricane level winds at will and now I learn they have bedsheet clouds

    • InevitableSwing [none/use name]
      hexagon
      ·
      4 months ago

      It's not an original thought on my part but I'll never get used to the reality of the digital world. People who believe in crazy nonsense will cling to that nonsense more strongly despite facts, data, and experts of all kinds debunking it. Sometimes the experts will even pop into their social media posts and talk to them.

      Imagine that "Dr" Wolf is writing a book and she's partnered with republicans to "get to the truth" about NASA's dastardly climate control machines and partnership with China. So she goes to NASA. Everybody there wants to avoid her like the plague but they have no choice. They have to speak to her anyway. Trump is president again and if the GOP gets mad at NASA - the party's crushing revenge will be cutting budgets to the bone.

      For countless hours she speaks to climatologist and other experts. The interviewees try their best to gently educate and inform her. It's to no avail. When the book is published - she attacks individual interviewees by name and she says they should "pay for their treason". And she has entire chapters with "proof" about NASA's attempts to brainwash her to stop her from getting to the truth about how China is using NASA to damage the US with freaky weather.

  • Leper_Messiah [he/him]
    ·
    4 months ago

    or Mammatus clouds associated with thunderstorms.

    She got them big ol mammatuses