On Sunday evening, a breathtaking display of mammatus clouds lit up the sky for those who took a moment to look up. Following a series of thunderstorms, the rain cleared to reveal these unique clouds that are formed by condensed pockets of sinking cold air at the base of a cloud when it encounters warmer air.
The widespread appearance of mammatus clouds on Sunday was unusual and captured the attention of people across New Jersey, the Delaware Valley region, and even as far south as northern Delaware. Social media users quickly shared their photos of the mesmerizing sky scene and praised its beauty and uniqueness.
Mammatus clouds are typically associated with cumulonimbus clouds that produce strong storms during warm months. The presence of mammatus clouds in a cumulonimbus cloud could indicate a particularly severe storm is on its way.
These cloud formations are created when a large mass of water vapor rises in the atmosphere during thunderstorms and sinks back down as it spreads out. While mammatus clouds are not dangerous for those on the ground, they can be hazardous for pilots due to the turbulence they may create.
Although mammatus clouds are not considered rare, they are most striking at sunset. Their presence can be a warning sign of potentially dangerous weather conditions nearby, such as lightning or hail.