SkyPix

A digital photographic storybook of clouds, weather and water by Roger Edwards.

Prairie Smoke into the Storm

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Backed by the dark depths of a storm complex and its shelf cloud (arcus), following the merger of supercells, an ominous sky looms over a column of smoke.  A lightning strike from the anvil ignited the fire over the ridge about 10 minutes before, and the smoke plume streamed back through the inflow region into the updraft area.  Within just a couple minutes, the smoke would be blasted eastward, … [Read more...]

Outflow Flag

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On an uncommon central High Plains storm intercept following Independence Day, the spirit of the holiday lingered in the air, as a formerly supercellular convective cluster's gust front blasted through McCook.  The outflow winds under the arcus cloud both supported and battered this tattered old flag, in a case of dual symbolism for the nation at large.  McCook NE (7 Jul 25) Looking NNW 40.1983, … [Read more...]

High Plains Eastern Sunset Sky

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This was far from the only sunset I've shot looking eastward or close to it, across the majestic expanse of High Plains and behind storms, even in the same year.  Yet this was more special than most, thanks to getting away from the main highway and having to myself the blend of sight, wet-earth aroma, sounds of birds and occasional faint thunder, and 360-degree brilliant light cast deeply and … [Read more...]

Double the Boom

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A formerly tornadic supercell churned southward then stalled out, as a new storm formed behind it to the northwest.  The intensely electrified convective combination began hurling lightning as if it were an ill-tempered, venomous snake lunging repeatedly at an irritating intruder.  Forked flashes like this, through clear air, were so common that I occasionally could catch more than one simply by … [Read more...]

Wild Sea at Holei

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Hawaii Island's Holei Sea Arch appears here in an unusual (for me anyway) morning view.   At 90 feet high, the column results from Pacific waves directly pounding and also undermining surrounding Kilauea basalt.  Just such a wave appears in the background, blasting up a cliff and further, in a plume well over 100 feet high.   Several big waves also slammed the arch while I was on the next major … [Read more...]

Volcanic Pyroconvective Plume

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Pyroconvection doesn't just happen from wildfires or rise from flames.  Any extreme heat source can cause it, and this absolutely qualifies:  a skyscraper-high fountain of lava hotter than 2,000 degrees F, shooting upward for hours from the southwestern floor of the Kilauea summit caldera.  Continual landing of hot rocks on the crater floor raised large amounts of yellow dust that got drawn up … [Read more...]