Creepy mothership shelf cloud rolls over Lipetsk, Russia

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Look at this creepy shelf cloud in the sky of Lipetsk, Russia on April 18, 2016.

It really looks like a mothership.

mothership cloud, mothership cloud pictures, mothership cloud april 18 2016, mothership shelf cloud april 18 2016 pictures, mothership cloud lipetsk russia

mothership cloud, mothership cloud pictures, mothership cloud april 18 2016, mothership shelf cloud april 18 2016 pictures, mothership cloud lipetsk russia
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Supercell thunderstorms are dangerous storms that have a strong updraft and rotation.

mothership cloud, mothership cloud pictures, mothership cloud april 18 2016, mothership shelf cloud april 18 2016 pictures, mothership cloud lipetsk russia

mothership cloud, mothership cloud pictures, mothership cloud april 18 2016, mothership shelf cloud april 18 2016 pictures, mothership cloud lipetsk russia

These storms can be very long-lived and can produce significant damage in many communities.

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mothership cloud, mothership cloud pictures, mothership cloud april 18 2016, mothership shelf cloud april 18 2016 pictures, mothership cloud lipetsk russia

Storms possessing this structure have been observed to generate the vast majority of long-lived strong and violent (F2-F5) tornadoes, as well as downburst damage and large hail.

mothership cloud, mothership cloud pictures, mothership cloud april 18 2016, mothership shelf cloud april 18 2016 pictures, mothership cloud lipetsk russia
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mothership cloud, mothership cloud pictures, mothership cloud april 18 2016, mothership shelf cloud april 18 2016 pictures, mothership cloud lipetsk russia Supercell thunderstorms often form discretely, or separate from an organized line or cluster of thunderstorms.

mothership cloud, mothership cloud pictures, mothership cloud april 18 2016, mothership shelf cloud april 18 2016 pictures, mothership cloud lipetsk russia

This type of thunderstorm forms in an environment with warm and humid conditions that promote rapid lifting of air.

mothership cloud, mothership cloud pictures, mothership cloud april 18 2016, mothership shelf cloud april 18 2016 pictures, mothership cloud lipetsk russia

mothership cloud, mothership cloud pictures, mothership cloud april 18 2016, mothership shelf cloud april 18 2016 pictures, mothership cloud lipetsk russia

Quickly changing wind speed and/or direction with altitude helps rotation develop by adding a twisting motion to the atmosphere.

mothership cloud, mothership cloud pictures, mothership cloud april 18 2016, mothership shelf cloud april 18 2016 pictures, mothership cloud lipetsk russiaThe combination of the discrete formation and strong rotation of supercell thunderstorms allows for a dramatic appearance that can be described as “mothership” clouds.

Pictures by Anasteisha Faustova, Алексей Зайцев, Сергей Усатенко, Санек Миднайт, Иван Иванов, Александр Сарибекян, Станислав Букреев via VK / Meteo and via VK / Phobos

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