Mammatus Cloud Formations over Union Square Park
These very strange cloud formations suddenly appeared in the sky around 8:30 p.m. when the sun was setting in Union Square Park in NYC today.
Moments before their appearance, people were casually sitting on the steps of the park entrance and carrying on as most New Yorkers do. Suddenly, there were sounds of gasps and one by one people held their cell phones up to the sky to photograph this strange occurrence.
These weren't the famed chemtrails, neither the Lenticular clouds that are mistaken for UFO's or the wispy metaphysical Sylphs often spoken about in spiritual circles.
These clouds weren't even similar to the new "Asperatus" clouds seen all over the world which the Royal Meteorological Society are trying to officially add to a new cloud category (an event of which hasn't occurred since 1951.)
It is interesting that these clouds appeared a few days after an interesting article appeared in Associated Press by Michael Crumb mentioning the woman in Des Moines, Iowa who photographed the apparently new formation in 2006.
Even if they turn out to be just a play of wind and light; the sight of them made quite a few New Yorkers stop their frantic pace, take their eyes off their Blackberry's and raise them up to photograph this magnificent sky.
Update: Mammatus Clouds
Photos: Olivia
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Comments
These are Mammatus Clouds - look it up.
Thank you for the information. They are Mammatus clouds. From the Latin word "mamma" (udder).
It appears to be a very rare cloud formation, with differing theories as to their formation and still no clear cut understanding of the phenomenon.
One of the theories states that gravity wave trains may be responsible for their formation.
Quite a sight!
I noticed these ydy too--the sky was a strange color. Very weird. Nice article!
They are mammatus clouds. Out here in the midwest they are very common during the spring as they usually precede strong thunderstorms.
Great article! Us NYers were like, "what the...". Glad you addressed it.
they scared the heck out of me! I am a firm believer in spirituality and the last days are evident in many ways all over the world. I just thought of all those people who we read about in the bible and quran who witnessed miracles and warnings but kept on living life the way they had been before they saw God's signs. I took it as a warning. Something weird is going on with our planet!
Here some of my pictures I took in west village.
panoramio.com/user/1815353
ireport.com/docs/DOC-285240
walking to meet a friend lots of people were taking photos, was magnif.
Mammatus Clouds Over NYC June 26, 2009 8:30pm
*** VIDEO ***
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YPVtxffQcc
Mammatus Clouds over Manhattan we driving after the rains eading to pier 40 on the west village when suddenly we stop and started to shoot this rare cloud formation i never seen something like this and to have seen it on my friends b-day was a crazy moment ... below the research
As soon as I saw them, I said, "Mammatus." Mammatus clouds form under somewhat rare conditions and some people think they are beautiful. They're Spielberg's cloud of choice when he depicts 'dangerous stormclouds gathering' over a supernatural scene (think Raiders, Poltergeist).
getting wierd out there isnt it
I remember this....I couldn't believe my eyes! Very, very interesting to say the least! It was beautiful!
I have noticed all summer long that the clouds are very unusual here in VA. I wasn't sure if it was my imagination, but then a friend of mine noticed the same thing. Wonder what it's about?
End of the world???!! My god, they are just hail clouds. If you ever actually got out of the city once in a while and really paid attention to what's around you, you would know that it's a not so rare phenomenon.
Actually Shannon, they were Mammatus clouds, which are considered rare. I was out in Union Square Park at the moment they appeared and they were nothing ordinary. Everyone gasped, a couple hundred people were around me at that time, you never see a couple hundred New Yorkers stop in the street, look up, aim their cell phones in the sky and stare for the 5 to 10 minutes they appeared, often. A quick Google search will show that other photographers found the event intriguing and rare as well.
They should be renamed gluteal maximus clouds.
Have you all noticed the chemtrails a lot lately?Research chemtrails and haarp. they are not natural clouds.
its the end i think those clouds looks strange!
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