Lenticulars!

SKY WATCH FRIDAY time! Welcome all sky fans!!! I might not have time to respond to you, but I will try my best to visit!!!

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! Once again, I am sharing some of the beauty that our great God blessed me with...

Psalm 19:1
The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

I have never seen lenticular clouds before, the lens or saucer shaped clouds that generally form over or around mountains. I live in south Georgia. There are no mountains, just trees and farms. I wasn't sure I would ever have the pleasure of experiencing a lenticular altocumulus cloud, but once again, our gracious God showed me... I shot this lenticular cloud Saturday morning, while my wonderful groom was driving us to an event out of town.

Lenticular clouds (Lenticularis), also known as "flying saucer clouds," "angelship clouds", "cloudships", "clouds of heaven", are stationary lens-shaped clouds that form at high altitudes, normally aligned perpendicular to the wind direction.

Lenticular clouds are the most common member of an unusual class of clouds that remain stationary while the wind blows through them. They are normally generated by mountains. They form because of two fundamental properties of air and water. First, when air is lifted and expanded, it cools. This is why temperature normally decreases with height. Second, as air cools, the amount of water it can hold decreases. If air that is already holding almost as much water vapor as it can hold is lifted and thus cooled, the water will condense out fairly promptly onto any particles that may be in the air, forming a cloud. If the air is dry to start with, the air has to be lifted much farther before a cloud forms. When the air descends again, it is warmed, and the cloud droplets evaporate.
~sourceSometimes the air is forced into a wave pattern, generating what is known as a wave cloud. Wave clouds can look like strings of discs spreading out from the leeward side of the mountain. They can also form miniature waves which sometimes look exactly like a choppy sea. If you look around the cloud, you may see a geographical feature which is creating the conditions which lead to the formation of lenticular clouds. If you don't see a mountain or hill, there is probably a current of air running in the opposite direction to create a wave cloud.
~source

That aside, Melor made its way through Japan while we were sleeping, now just an extratropical depression. Sadly, two deaths are blamed on Typhoon Melor. Meanwhile, in the Atlantic Basin, the now Tropical Depression Henri (On-ree) is losing steam as he drifts through the Atlantic. A tropical wave on his heels shows little likelihood of development in the very hostile environment.Back in the states, we have a line of rain and thunderstorms literally inundating Missouri with torrential rains, leading to extensive flooding.
Residents within areas of the flood watches and warnings should exercise extreme caution. Water levels can rise suddenly, easily sweeping cars and people away. If there is water over the roadway, Turn Around, Don't Drown™. You never know how deep the water is, or even whether or not the road is still there. Water can easily wash away overpasses. Don't become a rescue mission... or worse.

Have a safe day!
~Dewdrop