Community Chat

[On It]

This cloud formation occurred yesterday afternoon and sat there. It is beautiful, but its location made it more exciting.

[Nightowlz]

Looks pretty neat. The 2nd pic looks like it's just sitting on top of the mountain or even coming out of it?

[SaveTheTurtles]

Wow, I've never seen clouds like that before.

[On It]

From what I can observe from the photos, the first one was taken in Las Cruces looking East. The second one appears to have been taken on the opposite side of the mountains driving toward Las Cruces looking West. The missile range is east of these mountains but not far.

[on the bay]

Nature sure is amazing. Never a dull moment!

I bet that is the first time most have ever seen anything like that! 

[SilleeMee]

Those kind of clouds seem to form over mountainous areas mostly. I've seen them over Pikes Peak here. They signify unstable air as it bounces off the mountain terrain below and are a forecast indicator of an approaching storm.

[On It]

@SilleeMee Thank you for the explanation. That is why they did not move across the sky like most clouds.

[millieshops]

@SilleeMee I grew up in a valley in PA, where we did have lots of interesting clouds, but never as much fun as I remember the clouds during the summers DH and I pulled a travel trailer from coast to coast.  The Rockies do amazing things to the weather.   

[SilleeMee]

@On It 

You might be seeing these (altostratus clouds) in the coming days...maybe.

[Sooner]

I think they are called lenticular clouds.   Mostly mountain areas, but are seen here sometimes in Oklahoma with the thunderstorms. Not sure those are exactly the same, but look much like these.