'Tsunami' Shelf Cloud Over Richmond, VA - July 2012

'Tsunami' Shelf Cloud Over Richmond, VA - July 2012



I haven't seen this posted yet, even though it's been a week since it was spotted. How rare a cloud formation are these? Signs of weather manipulation? HAARP? Climate change? Or just a rare - yet natural - formation? Maybe some of our resident weather experts can chime in?

reply to post by Blackmarketeer




What an Ominous looking cloud.



I believe these are like Wall clouds, right?

All I can tell you, is that it looks awesome, and I will leave the experts, to letting us really know what this is, and how rare they are.

Another great thread,

S&F

I'm no expert in clouds but I know one thing for sure ...

If that was around my area, I'd be terrified and thinking of getting in my car

Amazing looking clouds nonetheless!

Yeah, no kidding that looks totally awesome. I only saw the first few seconds and had to comment and star and flag. That looks like it's alive man. Okay back to watching the video.

Originally posted by Manhater
Yeah, no kidding that looks totally awesome. I only saw the first few seconds and had to comment and star and flag. That looks like it's alive man. Okay back to watching the video.

Noooooooooooo! Don't watch the rest of the video.

It'll come for then!!!

1:48

that guy is totally funny.

"That ain't no clooud" "Yov ever see a clooud do that efore"

Definitely scary for sure and cool looking.

Wow it even looks like it has tentacles man...

Dang, always miss the action, would of loved to have witnessed that.

It''s a shelf cloud. Not the same thing as a wall cloud, but it sure looks impressive!

reply to post by Blackmarketeer


That's how alien spaceships hide themselves.

Expect to see more of these in other locations soon.

OKG!! that is an awesome sight. If that would be approaching my neighbourhood, it would scare the life right outa me!!!! Great thread. S+F

I saw that cloud when it came over. It looked really ominous but no real weather came along with it. They tend to form when low clouds pass over mountains (the blue ridge) that push them up in to that shape. Good video compilation.

reply to post by Blackmarketeer


This is pretty good footage, but I don't think there is anything that makes it seem unnatural, or even particularly rare. This type of weather may be rare in some parts of the world, but it is probably more common than you think.

It appears to be similar to clouds associated with frontal systems, although this one wasn't particularly strong if there were no strong winds or severe weather associated with it. Perhaps it was more of a localised event rather than a massive frontal system. I've seen many clouds similar to this (but often not as well defined), but we do get a lot of frontal activity where I am in New Zealand, and I love watching severe weather .

Here is an example of an incoming cold front hitting Wellington with it's associated heavy squalls. There is a reason Wellington is known for it's severe weather.

reply to post by Blackmarketeer


Those should be called surf clouds...cuz they move like a surf wave and look like a surf wave cowabunga dude

From what I've read the threat posed by 'shelf clouds' is fairly small, they're more a harbinger of bad weather but don't pose the threat that 'wall clouds' do, which can bring tornadoes, etc.

Still, if I saw something like this (from Warsaw, Poland 2009) I'd be heading for the storm shelter...

They're usually at the beginning of severe storms. I haven't seen any this year since the drought and all.

en.wikipedia.org...

reply to post by Blackmarketeer

Woo hoo! A really well done video imo. I've never seen anything like this before at all, because I didn't know they existed. It is utterly magnificent and yet eerily ominous. This would be my definition of shock and awe.
what a terrific find, OP.

reply to post by Asktheanimals

I saw it also...never in my life had I seen clouds like that! I was getting ready to run in a store, pulled in the lot, & saw the cloud approaching. There must have been about 30 of us with our phones out getting pictures of it, reminded me of something from a movie.

Clouds were cool, but it was even better to see my hometown again. Hoping to get back down there around September or October. Gotta say I don't ever remember seeing that in Richmond before, I don't think even Hurricane Andrew threw up clouds like that!!


peace