Mount McKinley Lenticular Clouds
September 11, 2012
Photo taken by Denali National Park and Preserve Wonder Lake Webcam
Summary Authors: Charles Ruffin; Jim Foster
The photo above features snowy Mount McKinley (Denali), the tallest mountain in North America (20,320 ft or 6,194 m) wrapped in a lenticular cloud. It was taken by the webcam at the Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska on August 28, 2012. Lens shaped lenticular clouds are a form of wave cloud typically seen in the lee of mountains when moist air is forced to rise over elevated terrain. They often appear almost motionless with respect to the terrain because they form in stationary air currents -- in the crest of the wave. With sufficient moisture and airflow, multiple layers of lenticulars may be stacked atop one another.