SkyPix

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

Winter Wonderland, Oklahoma

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The winter of 1987–1988 was notable in Norman for several heavy snowfalls of around a foot.  Being a man of the lower latitudes, I only remember such otherwise miserable cold-weather events for their occasionally beautiful results, like this shot of the duck pond at Brandt Park.  Who says Oklahoma doesn't have major winter weather? Norman OK (Jan 88) Looking ENE 35.2059, -97.4364 … [Read more...]

Nebraska Arcus: West

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Some arcus or shelf clouds have laminar, smooth banding that occurs when the cold pool forces upward a layer of relatively stable air at that level.  Others, such as this one, are more convective, or bubbly and rolling in character, the lifted air being unstable.  [Here is a view of the east side of the same formation.]  Scientifically and aesthetically, this was a marvelous process to behold.  … [Read more...]

Nebraska Arcus: East

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An earlier, fast-moving supercell sent out an intense, multi-county-scale gust front, reinforced by assorted mainly elevated storms that formed in the warm-advection area atop the cold pool.   While that ended the chase day early, it graced us with the opportunity for some good times with friends out on the Great Plains while enjoying some blasts of cool outflow, and of course this splendid shelf … [Read more...]

Ducks and Snow

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Another peaceful winter scene graces the duck pond on the OU campus.  Between 12 and 14 inches of snow blanketed the shoreline.  Despite the chilled waters, the ducks seemed quite pleased to be there, instead of trudging through that thick blanket of icy white powder ashore. Norman OK (Jan 88) Looking SSE 35.2069, -97.4364 … [Read more...]

Pray for Rain

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A common and oft-justified sentiment in southwestern Oklahoma, this sign manifest authentic desperation following the drought of 2012, which lasted through wintertime and into spring 2013 here.   Alas, this high-based storm's heavy-precip core would miss this spot and the city of Altus, just to the south, leaving a narrow swath of mud and puddles amidst the otherwise still-parched landscape.  … [Read more...]

Barely Tornadic Bowl

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After its impressive debut (especially for a high-based storm that hadn't threatened to produce for a long time beforehand), this surprise tornado continued to churn along at slow forward speeds across the high tablelands of northeastern New Mexico, for more than 10 minutes.  Very faint, occasional wisps of rotating dust occasionally rose off the ground during this final stage, when a … [Read more...]