Pueblo, Colorado, Mammatus Clouds

Provided and copyright by: Van Truan
Summary authors & editors: Jim Foster, Van Truan

This photo showing sunlit mammatus clouds was captured following a dramatic thunderstorm, which passed just south of Pueblo, Colorado. It was taken near sun down on May 14, 2007, and the camera is facing east. The mammatus clouds are below the anvil of what appears to be a rotating storm. These stirring clouds are most likely caused by downdrafts of cold air within mature thunderstorm cells. See also the Earth Science Picture of the Day for June 6, 2007.