What are the strange clouds in the sky?☁️

What are the strange clouds in the sky?☁️

WRAL viewers sent us photos of some strange clouds they saw in the sky.

WRAL meteorologist Elizabeth Gardner said they’re actually quite common.

“It’s a beautiful cloud but not unusual,” she said. “It’s a nearly textbook cumulonimbus, or thunderstorm cloud.”

Strange clouds in the sky
Strange clouds in the sky
Strange clouds in the sky
Strange clouds in the sky
Strange clouds in the sky

We saw a line of storms come through parts of the area Wednesday evening, which explains why the clouds appeared.

Clouds going  home from FTCC last night
Clouds going home from FTCC last night
These are pictures of a 'supercell'? as viewed from the 40/42 area back to the west around 8-8:30PM with the sun setting to the west.  The effect made the cloud formations appear 'on fire' and quite dramatic.  Lightning could be seen in the clouds occasionally.
These are pictures of a ‘supercell’? as viewed from the 40/42 area back to the west around 8-8:30PM with the sun setting to the west. The effect made the cloud formations appear ‘on fire’ and quite dramatic. Lightning could be seen in the clouds occasionally.

“More commonly known as thunderclouds, cumulonimbus is the only cloud type that can produce hail, thunder and lightning,” the Met Office said.

Photo of clouds from former WRAL studio cameraman (mid 1970's)
Photo of clouds from former WRAL studio cameraman (mid 1970’s)

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