SkyPix

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

Little Contrail and Crepusculars

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This short contrail sublimated rapidly behind an airplane crossing above a field of crepuscular rays, as seen from the west lawn of the National Weather Center.  I used "sublimated" instead of "evaporated", because even as hot and moist as the engine exhaust was, its condensation crystallized to ice within a second or two in the surrounding bitter-cold air of double digit below zero (F).  The ice … [Read more...]

Rain-Wrapped Tornado

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The Comstock tornado moved eastward, behind and to the right of the grain bins, where it briefly became better contrasted within the orbiting rain curtains.  Here was our best look at it.  Many rain-wrapped tornadoes are not even this visible!  One may get completely hidden from view, evident only if it tears through live electric wires or, in the worst scenario, moves overhead.  An overzealous … [Read more...]

Advection Fog

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Whatever its origins, advection fog gets its name from the advection, or movement by the wind, that brings the cloud mass from one point to another along the surface.  In this case, weak easterly winds were holding the stratus (fog when within) against the east slopes of the Sierra Nevada, on the edge of the Mono Basin.  This film slide was taken near the top of the same stratified cloud mass … [Read more...]

Icy Crawly

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A Volkswagen parts dealer in rural Oklahoma set up this whimsical, fanciful critter some years back.  Whether it is supposed to be a six-legged spider that masquerades as a (VW) Beetle, or a (VW) Beetle with the correct number of legs but in the stance of a spider, only the artist could say.  I do know this:  it sported fangs not only of metal, but of ice, when this photo was taken! 1 N … [Read more...]

Late Dakota Light

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From beyond the horizon, the set sun still cast deep warm hues across a western South Dakota sky covered in trailing anvil from a severe thunderstorm complex.  Low scud clouds silhouetted the sky, as higher, thinner fractus shreds transmitted more color, marvelously texturing the view.  All of this unfolded amidst a refreshing aroma of rain-soaked earth, and the last calls of daylight … [Read more...]

McLoud I-40 Crosser

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Our fourth and final tornado of the day was small but impactful, injuring a truck driver as it crossed Interstate 40 near McLoud, a minute or less before this photo.  We had seen a monstrous EF5 event between Piedmont and El Reno from an earlier supercell, along with two of its satellite tornadoes, before attempting in futility to get to the infamous Goldsby supercell as it was producing its own … [Read more...]