SkyPix

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

Tornadic Surprise in the Land of Enchantment

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Although we had been keeping close watch on this supercell for nearly two hours, we looked away and turned the vehicle southward to watch a newer, more visually energetic supercell to the southwest with a well-developed and slowly rotating wall cloud.   A third storm's left (north) side had sent a gust front laden with cool outflow air past us and northward toward the storm you see here, and the … [Read more...]

Lake-Log Ice Columns

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Stalactites (pointing down) and stalagmites (pointing up) don't just form from cave minerals; they can develop in ice, anywhere dripping water can freeze.  In this weird scene, they joined after hours of dripping from the log above, forming ice columns in some very cold air (below 15 degrees F).  Some of that dripping was related to waves and spray before the lake surface froze. Norman, OK (6 Jan … [Read more...]

Big Bennington

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At its closest approach to us--right about here--the slow-moving Bennington tornado was clearly audible, emitting a blend of waterfall-like whooshing and a low-frequency roar heard clearly through wrapping rain.  The condensed part of the tornado also assumed its widest "wedge" appearance.  At lower left, a few geese join a bigger flock of humans behind the camera in admiring the big vortex … [Read more...]

Skogafoss Spray

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Skogafoss is known as a spray factory--a high-volume, 200-foot waterfall plunging off relict sea cliffs onto a flat bar of rocks and gravel, before what's left of its stream heads 3 miles across the coastal plain to the Atlantic Ocean.  On a cloudy, breezy, high-humidity day, the continual mist factory pumps out a noticeable contribution to the atmospheric moisture.  Overcast days are good for … [Read more...]

New Mexico Turquoise

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By this time--about four hours into its lifespan--a long-lasting, heavy-precipitation supercell often wears an expansive kilt of rising scud surrounding a deep, dark core.  This splendid specimen was no exception.  Where this storm was exceptional was in its spectacular high-based presence over the scrubby shortgrass plains and red soil of southeastern New Mexico, and especially, the deep, … [Read more...]