SkyPix

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

Trego County: After the Storm

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An extensive pool of moist, stable air covered the Great Plains countryside after the passage of a severe-storm cluster that still cast a dark and ominous pall across the eastern sky as it departed.   With the storms being very high-based and outflow-dominant on the front end, and no legitimate chance of a supercellular tornado, we hopped over to the back side to enjoy the cool air, rain-freshened … [Read more...]

Twilight Supercell over Sierra Grande

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One pleasant evening of storm observing in northeastern New Mexico ended when a final supercell, weak but photogenic, formed SW of Sierra Grande and moved over the mountain for a few final flashes and a fine display of post-sunset colors.  An extinct shield volcano reaching 8,723 feet above sea level, Sierra Grande is the easternmost point in the U.S. with such a high elevation. 2 SE Des Moines … [Read more...]

7-11 Lightning: Strike Three

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Soon after the second such forked stroke from well aloft in the storm's upper reaches, this third (that I caught) tremendous blast split the sky south of Norman, from just slightly east of the last.  This wasn't like baseball; strikes four, five and more were on the way too.   Some folks around Noble were enduring a very loud evening!  The main updraft was on the north (front) side, and the storm … [Read more...]

Optical Corona through Icelandic Waterfall

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Coronas are optical effects that happen when sunlight or moonlight experiences diffraction while passing through small droplets.  In this case, both the ragged, scuddy stratocumulus and Seljalandsfoss contributed.   Some of the corona was visible through the cloud edges, but it became most vivid with help from the waterfall. Seljaland, Iceland (13 Aug 14) Looking WNW 63.6154, -19.9881 … [Read more...]

Monumental Strike

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A weakening supercell produced abundant flashes before I had a chance to find this good viewing spot on the edge of Scottsbluff National Monument and set up.  Immediately, it shut down the lightning.  Doesn't that figure?  After wasting many empty shots, I was about ready to give up and head back to the motel room when this brilliant blast of atmospheric electricity lit up the twilight sky beneath … [Read more...]