SkyPix

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

Rain Foot

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When precipitation cores hit the ground, some of it spreads outward along the edges, forming a flared bottom, also known in storm observers' lingo as a "rain foot."  Rapidly moving ones—especially if they raise scud clouds or dust, or are accompanied by power flashes—signal damaging downbursts.  In this case, however, the foot was kicking only slowly, and the outward rush of winds away from the … [Read more...]

Sunset Cirrus, Contrail and Sun Pillar

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For a meteorologist and sky aficionado, few events are more leasing than a wonderfully colorful sunset packed with fascinating weather elements.  Not only did a long-lasting contrail crisscross the scene with its varying thickness and light-shadow effects, but a faint sun pillar developed as well (up and down the middle of the shot).  Meanwhile, distant cirrus assumed a brilliant yellowish glow, … [Read more...]

Contrail

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Condensation trails (contrails, for short) form as very hot, relatively moisture-rich air from jet exhaust cools and decompresses rapidly amidst surrounding, much colder and low-pressure air at high altitudes.  Moisture in the exhaust plume condenses into ice crystals that linger for varying amounts of time, depending on humidity and winds in the surrounding air.  Drier air will evaporate the … [Read more...]

Sunset through Core

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An otherwise uneventful storm-observing day ended in an unexpectedly beautiful way, with the warm glows of the setting sun diffused through a rain core just dense enough to smudge the orb, but not to obscure it.  Underneath, only a distant center-pivot irrigator and a small, solitary tree broke the flat plane of the High Plains.  As long as there is no hail within (and there wasn't), this is a … [Read more...]

Spotlighting the Great Sand Dunes

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Following a line of thunderstorms, a conveniently placed clear slot in the western clouds allowed the rays to shine only on the dunes, while the foreground grasslands and background Sangre de Cristos remained in shade, their apparent contours nearly paralleling those of the dunes.  This was a special moment to witness, and not very common.  Many millennia of southwest winds have dropped sand … [Read more...]

Crosstimbers Encrusted

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Looking across a meadow, the Western Crosstimbers glisten in a casing of ice, courtesy of yet another central Oklahoma freezing-rain event.  The branches sparkled and crackled with even the faintest passing breeze, collectively exuding a pained, strained, arthritic sound while reflecting thousands of points of light. Norman OK (24 Dec 13) Looking ESE 35.2133, -97.3704 … [Read more...]