Amazing cloud formations seen over Deeside today.

News and Info from Deeside, Flintshire, North Wales

This article is old - Published: Saturday, Mar 7th, 2015

There’s been some amazing pictures posted on social media this afternoon of strange cloud formations over Deeside and other parts of north wales.

@phildyoung @DeesideDotCom @Lauratobin1 Cracking altocumulus lenticularis ( piles of plates).

— Peter Gibbs (@PeterG_Weather) March 7, 2015

The clouds are known as Lenticular clouds,or altocumulus lenticularis are stationary lens-shaped clouds that form at high altitudes.

— Vicky Harvey (@Vics2273) March 7, 2015

They are formed when stable moist air flows over a mountain or a range of mountains, a series of large-scale standing waves form on the downwind side.

Lenticular clouds sometimes form at the crests of these waves.

@DeesideDotCom @PeterG_Weather @Lauratobin1 Amazing clouds #flintshire pic.twitter.com/a3YMoIQ6gh — Phil young68 (@phildyoung) March 7, 2015

Pilots don’t particularly like them to fly close to them due to the increased risk of turbulence, glider pilots on the other hand love them.

Systems of atmospheric standing waves cause “lennies” which involve large vertical air movements, and the precise location of the rising air mass is fairly easy to predict from the orientation of the clouds.

@DerekTheWeather look at these crazy clouds over Ewloe Green pic.twitter.com/ywY2sRiLDu — Andy Stelfox (@steli1977) March 7, 2015

“Wave lift” of this kind is often very smooth and strong, and enables gliders to soar to remarkable altitudes and great distances.

Strange cloud formations viewed towards Hawarden off the A55.. Beautiful pic.twitter.com/gx1K0JMdYP — Ian Butler (@IanWrexy) March 7, 2015

Lenticular clouds are often likened to UFOs or at least the stereotypical image of UFO’s because they have a lens type appearance and smooth saucer-like shape.