Spectacular mammatus clouds engulf the sunset sky of York, England

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These spectacular mammatus clouds engulfed the sunset sky of York, England on January 7, 2015.

Watch some amazing pictures and learn more about their formation below.

Mammatus are pouch-like clouds that protrude down from the bottom of a thunderstorm’s anvil cloud.

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Awesome Mammatus clouds over Clifford’s tower in York. Photo by Karen Winship/ authorization by York Weather Station

The storm’s anvil consists of ice crystals but, as it spreads out at the top of a thunderstorm, some of the ice begins falling and cools the clear air below.

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And with the light of the sun setting, these weird clouds are become magical. Photo: Russ @Alien_Orifice

 

Despite popular misconception, mammatus clouds usually are an indication severe weather has passed and thunderstorms are weakening.

They are not a sign that a tornado is about to form.

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The mammatus cloud is generally poorly understood. Photo: Hilary Howe

However, mammatus clouds sometimes form on the upwind, or backside, of severe thunderstorms that at the same time are dropping large hail and unleashing 60-70 mph bursts of wind.

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Like big udders or breasts forming in the sky. Photo: Craig Bloodworth

Storms have to have wicked updrafts of rising air, probably moving at 75-100 mph, to spread an anvil into the steering winds in the first place as a thunderstorm’s anvil cloud naturally and easily spreads with the wind.

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Awesome sunset sky. Photo by Andy Falconer

But, in most cases, mammatus can be found beneath the anvils of dying thunderstorms.

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By Maria Parks

Here a good scientific article about the mysteries of mammatus clouds.

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