SkyPix

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

Satellite Tornado, Chickasha

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As the major Chickasha tornado and its massive, parent supercell crossed the western outskirts of town, a second, separate and much smaller tornado formed to its east (right). Two at once, in the same mesocyclone! We were stunned to see this happen, but also fascinated as scientists by the process, and very fortunate to be able to witness such an uncommon event. The big tornado was obviously … [Read more...]

Occluded and Secluded

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Here's a zoomed-in view just a minute or less after the previous, wide-angle shot of the deeply occluded, tornadic Chugwater supercell's mesocyclone. Even in its final gasps, now well secluded from the main updraft area (and location of the new, nontornadic mesocyclone) in the foreground, the vortex was heaving forth many tons of dirt and brush, and capable of damage were there anything man-made … [Read more...]

Deep Marine Stratocumulus

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Thinner stratocumulus formations offshore, and atop the marine boundary layer, deepened in the zone of onshore convergence amidst a stiff onshore breeze, rendering a darker overhead cloud deck near the coast. This created a somewhat melancholy, cavernous (looking out from within) effect that befit this cool, wet, somber landscape and seascape quite well. A mixture of sporadic drizzle and sea spray … [Read more...]

Stockton Tornado Zoom

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The Stockton tornado reached its peak size and apparent intensity right here; and it was almost a miracle I was able to capture it on film. I had just changed to a 200-mm zoom lens, and (having lost the tripod clip) braced the camera atop a tilted post. I leveled the camera body with a stone I happened to have in my pocket, hand-cradled the front of the lens, and clicked away. Luckily, I didn't … [Read more...]

Over Atlantic Surf

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This scene features a sunset across the Atlantic, as viewed from North Carolina. Yes, that's right, sunset. How on earth...? Actually, such a shot is perfectly reasonable, when considering that this part of the coast lies west-northwest to east-southeast, and the late winter sun sets at a slightly offshore angle to the beach. After sunset, I was treated to another peculiar scene more common to … [Read more...]

Rising River

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The South Skunk River swelled out of its banks and out of control, rising as rapidly as three feet an hour into the east side of Story City. Within a couple hours after this photo, the river not only flowed against the bottom of the bridge, but across the roadway on both sides. I didn't stick around to observe or shoot that occurrence, or I might have been stranded on that bridge until the next … [Read more...]