SkyPix

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

Twilight Supercell over Sierra Grande

By

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

By

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

By

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

By

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...]

Bennington Occludes

By

After the long-lived, nearly stationary brute had formed, widened, and widened more, the Bennington tornado wrapped and unwrapped precipitation a couple of times.  This wide-angle view shows the second such stage, as the tornado retreated back to the WNW very slowly and we lost its audible sound.  A deep occlusion-downdraft process was underway as evident in the "clear" (actually less-cloudy) slot … [Read more...]