Getting stared at for pointing out a perfect mammatus cloud

I was at the park with my dog last week when I spotted these wild, pouch-like clouds hanging low, all puffy and dark against the orange sky. I knew right away it was a mammatus formation, which is pretty rare here. Without thinking, I blurted out 'Whoa, check out those clouds!' and gestured up with both hands. This family on a picnic blanket just froze and gave me the side-eye, like I was shouting about aliens. Their kid asked if I was okay, and I had to explain I was just excited about the weather. The mom nodded slowly and went back to her sandwich, totally ignoring the amazing sky show. I felt pretty silly standing there alone with my dog, but I snapped a few photos before leaving. Sometimes cloud spotting turns into a solo mission when no one else gets it.

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3 Comments

the_linda7mo ago

The mom went back to her sandwich? Mammatus clouds are a rare and awesome sight. Some people just miss out.

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sandrag377mo ago

Wait, did you say mammatus clouds are rare? They're actually pretty common with big thunderstorms... I see why you'd think that, @the_linda, but they form under the anvil cloud all the time. The mom going back to her sandwich is still funny though.

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laura_gonzalez257mo ago

Check out that video from last year's supercell in Kansas, the mammatus clouds looked like a field of upside-down bubbles. @sandrag37 is right about them forming under the anvil, but seeing them that clear and defined still feels special. The mom missing it for her sandwich is a whole mood though. Makes you wonder how often we ignore the wild stuff right over our heads for the most normal things.

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