Mammatus Clouds Above Anchorage

August 28, 2005

0014-2004-0213-1203

Provided and copyright by: Pete Hanson
Summary authors & editors: Pete Hanson

The photo above was taken on February 14, 2004 and shows inauspicious looking mammatus clouds drooping heavily over Anchorage, Alaska. Mammatus are caused by down-drafts of cold air within mature storm systems, but they aren't necessarily a sign of severe weather. They're rare this far north, though, especially during February. See also tomorrow's Earth Science Picture of the Day.

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