I have a thing for clouds.
The wispy ones that make a sunrise or sunset glow. The puffy ones that look like animals or faces if you stare long enough. The dark, brooding ones that roll in and signal a storm.
And then there are the lenticular clouds, the ones that look like funnels, stacked pancakes, or sometimes, unmistakably, a UFO.
This week, I was lucky enough to spot a lenticular cloud here in Borrego Springs, California.
I had picked up lunch in town and decided to eat at Christmas Circle, our little community park in the center of town. Working remotely has its perks, but it also means I have to be intentional about getting out of the house so I don’t go stir-crazy. My husband had the day off and was out golfing. I needed an outing of my own.
As I sat at the picnic table with my burger and fries, I kept glancing up at one particular cloud.
Is that a lenticular cloud?
It looked impressive to me, layered and sculpted in a way most clouds aren’t. But no one else in the park seemed to be looking up, so I second-guessed myself.
I went back to my lunch and watched the steady stream of cars circling Christmas Circle. I’ve often wondered how many cars loop around that park in a single day. It always feels like a lot when you’re sitting there long enough to notice. But I digress.
When I finished eating, I tossed my trash and climbed back into the truck to head home.
But that cloud was still there.
Curiosity won.
I looped around the circle again and pulled onto a side road for a better view. The shape was too distinct. It had to be a lenticular cloud. I snapped a photo with my phone and used it to identify the cloud.
Confirmation: lenticular. At least according to my photo matching method.
I shot some video, took a few more photos, and then headed home to share my observations on YouTube and social media. And, of course, I did what I always do when something catches my interest, I went down a small research rabbit hole.
Here are a few fun facts about lenticular clouds:
- Lenticular clouds form when stable, moist air flows over a mountain range, creating a large-scale, wave-like pattern in the atmosphere.
- Although they often appear stationary, time-lapse photography shows they are constantly forming on one side and evaporating on the other.
- Commercial pilots tend to avoid them because they can signal strong turbulence. Glider pilots, on the other hand, seek them out because they indicate powerful rising air currents and they can use them for lift.
Spotting one feels like a small gift, a reminder to look up, even on an ordinary lunch break.
If you’ve ever photographed a lenticular cloud, I’d love to see it in the comments. They take on so many different shapes, and each one appears a little otherworldly.
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