The Weather Notebook: Listener Question: Lenticular Clouds

Listener Question: Lenticular Clouds
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Dave Thurlow, Host

Hi, I'm Dave Thurlow and this is The Mount Washington Observatory's Weather Notebook. Today we have a listener question about a specific kind of cloud. Here's Peter Ryan and his daughter Erin from Woodland Park, CO, listeners of affiliate station KEPC:


Lenticular clouds as seen from the summit of Mount Washington in NH Observatory photo album

"Hi, we had a question about lenticular clouds. And we were wondering how they're formed and are they made of water vapor or ice crystals. Thank you very much, we really enjoy your show."

Boy that's a great question you guys. I bet you see a lot of lenticular clouds out there next to Pikes Peak. We see a lot of lenticular clouds right here next to Mount Washington. So as you may have guessed lenticular clouds are caused by mountains. You have to be near a mountain to see one. And you can't miss 'em because they look like flying saucers, or sometimes like a stack of pancakes. They're elliptical but with points at both ends. Their surface, top and bottom, is smooth and sleek -- not like other bumpy looking clouds. And, they don't move! Instead of blowing along with the wind like normal clouds, lenticular clouds stay put and the wind blows right through them.

So, are they made of water vapor or ice crystals? Well, neither really, Lenticular clouds are made of water, tiny, tiny drops of liquid water -- just like all clouds except for the very high cirrus clouds, which are made of ice crystals. Water vapor is invisible.

So Erin, you and your Dad, and anyone actually can check for some great pictures of lenticular clouds at our web site mountwashington.org. And for any of you near mountains, keep an eye out for the real thing.

If you have a weather question, please call 1-888-rain-001. And remember, if you leave a question on our machine, we'll send you one of our Weather Notebook Cloud posters. So, the number again, 1-888-RAIN-001.

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