Lentinar Clouds Observed for First Time

Observation by Anna Michael

There was no Lentinar clouds before in Chuathbaluk AK. That was interesting to have lentinar clouds and sometimes there is like a wave of clouds straight across. Forms of clouds is interesting and it is not like all the times we see lentinar clouds here in Chuathbaluk.

Rick Thoman, Climate Scientist at the Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy, writes:

Wow, these are fantastic lenticular clouds. It's very unusual to see this so well developed outside of a few isolated big mountains (Mt. Rainier near Seattle is the most famous).

Comments by LEO Editors

According to Weather Underground, Lentinar clouds are formed by moist steady air and mountains. When moist air bounces against the peaks, the oscillating air waves can condense into Lentinar clouds when the temperature at the crest of the wave is equal to the dew point. When the air falls down the side of the end of the mountain, the temperature and the dew point become unequal and moisture evaporates. This process creates the layered billows. They can separate into altocumulus standing lenticular, stratocumulus standing lenticular, and cirrocumulus standing lenticular clouds.

The attached photos from Google Earth show a mountain range closest to Chuathbaluk and two ranges further away. The attached temperature graph from Accuweather shows it was a bit on the warmer side, and Accuweather states the average humidity for Chuathbaluk in January is 91%. The moist steady air must have waved over the mountains just right to create this rare and beautiful display you saw! Chyna Williams