SkyPix

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

Sparkling Destructives

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Points of reflection and refraction from numerous corners of ice sparkle with a delightful array of prismatic tones beyond an encased twig.  Amidst something as rigid, frigid and destructive as an ice storm, there twinkles an unexpected gleam of beauty.  This is one of life's commonest yet most overlooked metaphors.  At times of hardship we still can find as much magnificence and grace as we seek, … [Read more...]

Colors of DuPage

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While strolling into the College of DuPage with old friends, and before meeting students and giving a talk, I noticed this marvelous display growing brighter across the western sky.  Mostly north–south cirrus streaks bisected a deeply diffused contrail at right, produced by a long-gone aircraft.  At left shone the waxing crescent moon.  Fortunately we were early, and everyone could spare a couple … [Read more...]

Hail Road

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At first, with the brown grass and abundance of icy ground cover, this scene conjured thoughts of midwinter more than mid-June.  The grass had been parched by drought, however; and the frozen stuff was hail.  Supercells are often notoriously prolific hail dumpers, especially on the high plains of Colorado.  Some hail drifts in this area were over four inches deep.  Almost as thick was the … [Read more...]

Rainbow through Falling Hail

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An anticyclonic supercell, moving to the left of the average (mean) wind, moved overhead and to our E across the Great Plains of eastern Colorado. There is a great deal in this photograph, and yet, only a part of what we experienced in person with this fascinating storm. A dazzlingly sunlit cascade of hailstones descended upon us, thousands upon thousands of tumbling, sparkling white jewels, … [Read more...]

The Aroya Antisupercell

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Most supercells spin counterclockwise (cyclonically) in the Northern Hemisphere and move to the right of the average wind direction in their environment. However, some supercells peel away to the left instead.  They inhale much of their supply of unstable air on the opposite flank from cyclonic supercells, and rotate the opposite way (clockwise)!  Notice, in the mirror image below, how classic … [Read more...]

The Cheyenne Wells Antisupercell

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What is the deal with looking NW at photogenic, anticyclonic, left-moving supercells, amidst NW winds aloft, in Cheyenne County, CO?  I had to wonder, observing another one six years and four days after the first.  As in that case, I'll present the actual wide-angle view (left) and mirror image (below) for conceptual comparison.  Unlike the one in 2002, a Monthly Weather Review article probably … [Read more...]