These wavy clouds are out of this world: Undulatus asperatus engulf the sky over France and Brazil

6

Yesterday, a stormy ocean suddenly engulfs the sky over the Indre department in France. October 4th, apocalyptic undulatus asperatus flooded the sky over Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Look at these impressive sinuous waves, they are out of this world!

Undulatus asperatus clouds captured in the sky over Indre France, undulatus asperatus france, undulatus asperatus france october 2017, undulatus asperatus france pictures october 2017
Undulatus asperatus clouds captured in the sky over Indre, France. via VK
Undulatus asperatus clouds captured in the sky over Indre France, undulatus asperatus france, undulatus asperatus france october 2017, undulatus asperatus france pictures october 2017
Undulatus asperatus in the sky over France on October 5 2017. via Instagram

Like an agitated sea, the sinuous asperatus undulatus suddenly flooded the sky over Indre during the afternoon of October 5, 2017.

Undulatus asperatus clouds captured in the sky over Indre France, undulatus asperatus france, undulatus asperatus france october 2017, undulatus asperatus france pictures october 2017
Undulatus asperatus in the sky over France on October 5 2017. via VK
Undulatus asperatus clouds captured in the sky over Indre France, undulatus asperatus france, undulatus asperatus france october 2017, undulatus asperatus france pictures october 2017
Undulatus asperatus in the sky over France on October 5 2017. via VK

The unique formation, known as Undulatus asperatus, develops when undulation in the atmosphere causes air to move.

Undulatus asperatus clouds captured in the sky over Indre France, undulatus asperatus france, undulatus asperatus france october 2017, undulatus asperatus france pictures october 2017
Undulatus asperatus in the sky over France on October 5 2017. via Instagram
Undulatus asperatus clouds captured in the sky over Indre France, undulatus asperatus france, undulatus asperatus france october 2017, undulatus asperatus france pictures october 2017
Undulatus asperatus in the sky over France on October 5 2017. via Instagram

The striking wavy motion then appears across the sky, when wind makes contact with the base of low-lying clouds.

Undulatus asperatus clouds captured in the sky over Indre France, undulatus asperatus france, undulatus asperatus france october 2017, undulatus asperatus france pictures october 2017
Undulatus asperatus in the sky over France on October 5 2017. via Instagram
Undulatus asperatus clouds captured in the sky over Indre France, undulatus asperatus france, undulatus asperatus france october 2017, undulatus asperatus france pictures october 2017
Undulatus asperatus in the sky over France on October 5 2017. via Instagram

The Cloud Appreciation Society has classified these wavy clouds as a unique cloud formation in 2009. They were photographed for the first time in the 70s in Iowa (USA). This classification is still controversial as this cloud is considered a mere “altocumulus” by other organisations.

Undulatus asperatus clouds captured in the sky over Indre France, undulatus asperatus france, undulatus asperatus france october 2017, undulatus asperatus france pictures october 2017
Undulatus asperatus in the sky over France on October 5 2017. via VK
Undulatus asperatus clouds captured in the sky over Indre France, undulatus asperatus france, undulatus asperatus france october 2017, undulatus asperatus france pictures october 2017
Undulatus asperatus in the sky over France on October 5 2017. via Instagram

These clouds often form at the front of a storm, in a very unstable atmosphere composed of two different currents, which gives its typical undulation. However, it is not necessarily synonymous with big damage: good rain, a few drops, or … nothing at all.

Here another series of crazy undulatus over Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on October 4, 2017:

Apocalyptic undulatus asperatus cloud over Brazil on October 4 2017
Apocalyptic undulatus asperatus cloud over Brazil on October 4 2017. By Helio C. Vital via Spaceweather
Apocalyptic undulatus asperatus cloud over Brazil on October 4 2017
Apocalyptic undulatus asperatus cloud over Brazil on October 4 2017. By Helio C. Vital via Spaceweather
Apocalyptic undulatus asperatus cloud over Brazil on October 4 2017
Apocalyptic undulatus asperatus cloud over Brazil on October 4 2017. By Helio C. Vital via Spaceweather
Apocalyptic undulatus asperatus cloud over Brazil on October 4 2017
Apocalyptic undulatus asperatus cloud over Brazil on October 4 2017. By Helio C. Vital via Spaceweather

Most asperatus are not particularly striking, but some of them have a very impressive apocalyptic shape when formed in a stormy environment.

Follow us: Facebook and Twitter

6 Comments

  1. Just Spotted This Weird Cloud Yesterday And I Didn’t Even Know This Was A Thing Today. Spotted In
    New Hampshire

  2. They are ominous looking clouds that’s for sure. I believe caused by high winds. We had them once where I live and someone got the pics posted online and caused a new name for these clouds as a result. I have some good pics of them too from that day.

    • I fully agree, I know about them since about 2013-2014. Similar to so-called Mammatus clouds, those maybe occured far earlier but personally I started to see them since 2014 or even later.

Leave a reply

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.