Low clouds create ominous feel

SKY WATCH FRIDAY time! I am busy busy with stimulus yuck, so I might not get a chance to say hi. Please don't take offense. Our hosts: Klaus Sandy Ivar Wren Louise Fishing Guy

Thanks, also,to Dot and Tom, who were instrumental in the success of this blogging event. You should definitely come fly with us!

Yesterday presented some amazing and beautiful, yet threatening skies for me. As I was driving home, I noted beautiful cumulus congestus swelling into a nimbus darkened sky. Seriously, the contrast between the stark white towers and the nimbus base of the background cloud was striking and beautiful. It had an eerie feel to it, especially as the thunder boomed and rumbled announcing its approach. It was ominous, but stunning. I was impressed with the height of the approaching cell, the top approaching probably 30,000 feet. It was all headed my way. As the thunderhead approached, the thunder became more urgent, shouting the near arrival of this massive beast. We had some rain... we had some wind, but what was the best part to me, was the very low, scuddy (is that a word?) cloud base that went over us. It was so turmoiled and textured, it was gorgeous. The pictures don't come close to demonstrating the amazing layers and arms of cloud reaching out of the sky. It was a superb show.... and that's all we had out of that slight risk, which we were practically drawn out of as the day progressed.

Now, out in the plains, where the expectation was that they might have some naders, Ma Nature delivered. This morning, I saw some incredible South Dakota video of a night time tornado that was only visible during flashes of associated lightning. Ten tornadoes, in all, were reported during yesterday's storms. You can click on the graphic for the storm reports. Today, the threat for severe weather has moved only slightly to the east.

Have a splendid day!
~Dewdrop