Kind of cool clouds graced the skies over north Texas yesterday late afternoon. I was able to capture some of the event but can tell you the photos do no justice to the eye witness account.

Regardless, I had the entire office outside looking up to the heavens (did I mention we office right next to a Hookah lounge and 2 doors down from a store-front church…maybe I shouldn’t to keep my credibility intact).

I sent several photos to the local ABC, NBC, and Fox afflilates. Only the ABC 10pm TV weather report “published” the photos last night during the broadcast that I know of. The Fox television chief meteorogist has been the only one to respond to my emailed photos and inquiry. Dan Henry explained the clouds as such: “Looks to me like Altostratus “Undulatus”. The reason you see them in rows like that is due to wind shear. We had strong NNW winds this afternoon up to roughly 10,000 feet, and then they abruptly shifted to the west above that. That change in wind direction causes eddies that lead to rising and falling motion. As the air rises, clouds form, and then as it sinks it dries out a bit and you get clearing. That’s what creates the “ribbon effect” you observed.“

Same photo (cropped) is now in this blog’s header. It really was a way cool weather event – the sky colors were vivid; the pin wheel or ribboned clouds were very defined for nearly an hour. Check my Flickr for a few more pictures if interested