Lenticular Clouds Over Southwestern New Mexico

Photographer: Chuck Wehner
Summary Author: Chuck Wehner; Jim Foster

The photo above shows Altocumulus lenticularis clouds looming over the Florida Mountains in southwestern New Mexico. These attention getting clouds are formed in invisible waves as air is forced up and over mountain ranges or areas of high relief. Like a standing wave in turbulent water, lenticular clouds generally stay stationary with respect to the underlying terrain. The beauties featured here seem as though they were designed to fit in with the wide basin and low range landscape. Photo taken on September 16, 2008.

Florida Mountains coordinates: N32.088426, W107.618636