Jaw-dropping “nature” pictures

[Deimos]

Not a joke, not a meme, just ....WOW!

Couple more jaw-dropping "nature" pics.

(Aside to Mods: should this thread continue to be used [if only by moi] for non-joke, non-meme posts?
Should I start a new thread for "jaw-dropping" nature pics?)

 

[Erestor Arcamen]

Per your request @Deimos

 

[Deimos]

View attachment 43356Per your request @Deimos

Gracias.
Awesome pic... where was it taken?

 

[Erestor Arcamen]

Gracias.
Awesome pic... where was it taken?

No problem. Not sure on this one, I just found it online to add to my post on the thread. I took these two after a storm one night when I thought the clouds looked really cool.

 

[Deimos]

Mammatus clouds

(From a weather site) The mammatus cloud is a sign that a strong storm is very close. They look like little pouches hanging down from the cloud. Usually found in the anvil of severe thunderstorms. These clouds aren't threatening but for these to be produced, there is a lot of instability present.

Wikipedia: Mammatus (also called mamma[1] or mammatocumulus, meaning "mammary cloud") is a cellular pattern of pouches hanging underneath the base of a cloud, typically a cumulonimbus raincloud (aka anvil thunderstorm clouds.) They often extend from the base of a cumulonimbus cloud, but may also be found under altostratus, and cirrus clouds, as well as volcanic ash clouds.
When occurring in cumulonimbus, mammatus are often indicative of a particularly strong storm.
The distinct "lumpy" undersides form as cold air sinks, creating pockets that contrast with the rising puffs of clouds caused by the convection of warm air.

 

[Erestor Arcamen]

Mammatus clouds

(From a weather site) The mammatus cloud is a sign that a strong storm is very close. They look like little pouches hanging down from the cloud. Usually found in the anvil of severe thunderstorms. These clouds aren't threatening but for these to be produced, there is a lot of instability present.

Wikipedia: Mammatus (also called mamma[1] or mammatocumulus, meaning "mammary cloud") is a cellular pattern of pouches hanging underneath the base of a cloud, typically a cumulonimbus raincloud (aka anvil thunderstorm clouds.) They often extend from the base of a cumulonimbus cloud, but may also be found under altostratus, and cirrus clouds, as well as volcanic ash clouds.
When occurring in cumulonimbus, mammatus are often indicative of a particularly strong storm.
The distinct "lumpy" undersides form as cold air sinks, creating pockets that contrast with the rising puffs of clouds caused by the convection of warm air.

Yup, I'd never seen them before but it looked like a drawing in the sky. Haven't really seen them since either.

 

[Deimos]

Yup, I'd never seen them before but it looked like a drawing in the sky. Haven't really seen them since either.

I think I've seen them before, a long time ago, and only a few times, and I never learned their name.
I googled "Droopy puff ball clouds under thunderstorm clouds".... Bingo. 🙂

 

[Deimos]

Now here's a neat one.... If you don't live in the US you'll have to google: outline map of the State of Wisconsin.
If you do live in the US but failed 4th grade Geography, you, too, will have to google a map of Wisconsin (which is in the United States... of America... on planet Earth)

 

[Deimos]

I think this is called a Wall Cloud.
It has a high potential of becoming a tornado because it forms at the base of thunderstorm cloud (cumulonimbus).
The thunderstorm cloud is mostly off frame to the upper left.
This one is rotating anti-clockwise (counter-clockwise for us Yanks), so it's in the Northern Hemisphere.

Actually, I'm going to amend the directions and say "it's difficult to tell".
You look at the base and think it's in one direction, and then look st the "wall" and it looks like the opposite direction.
If it really is moving CW it's in the Southern Hemisphere.
Regardless of location the local denizens are in for some potentially very destructive weather. Yikes. 😬

 

[Ent]

Ah. It willl be OK.
It has a cute little penguin in it, and a penguin would never do anything harmful.

 

[Deimos]

Huge black panther attacks helpless baby croc
(Not for the squeamish 😬...)

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😆

 

[Deimos]

I could do without the "music" (in places) .....You might want to turn it down, but not off.
Otherwise, definitely "jaw-dropping".

 

[Deimos]

I just experienced this humongous dust storm late Monday afternoon (25 Aug 2025)
The first part is taking place south of me in the more rural , open deserts of AZ .
Then you see it approach and engulf the metro Phoenix area....

 

[Ent]

It seems clear - at least to Ent's current perspective - the people driving into that thing are rather - well - unintelligent.
A simple "pull over and wait a few minutes" would reduce the risk to themselves and others by about - oh - 100%.

That said, denser storms than this have been known.

My jaw did drop though - anybody got a bucket of sap, or even some Elmers Glue? Need a bit of repair here.,

 

[Deimos]

It seems clear - at least to Ent's current perspective - the people driving into that thing are rather - well - unintelligent.
A simple "pull over and wait a few minutes" would reduce the risk to themselves and others by about - oh - 100%.

That said, denser storms than this have been known.

My jaw did drop though - anybody got a bucket of sap, or even some Elmers Glue? Need a bit of repair here.,

Sometimes visibility extends for several hundred yards...sometimes not.
One time I could barely see the streetlight (that came on due to the dust) that is positioned in front of the house next to me.
Other times I have continued driving through them because I could still see for almost a half mile.
As always, one should use common sense in deciding.
It's people that are new to the desert that have the most difficult time with our climate, (say-eth this 43 year resident).
Newcomers too often don't respect the heat, and the summer storms (with or without blowing dust) and the resultant flooding of washes and low-lying areas.
"Do not drive through flooded washes" is the most frequently ignored injunction.

 

[Ent]

common sense

And there it is... the quality so infrequently found. 🙃

 

[Deimos]

Jaw-droppingly funny, that is....😄

 

[grendel]

Jaw-droppingly funny, that is....😄


View attachment 44086

"Window Licking Squirrel" is now my bar trivia team name.

 

[Eljorahir]

From my back porch a few years ago.

Get off my screen door you dratted rodentia varmintius annoyium!!!

 

[Squint-eyed Southerner]

Aerial photo of a volcanic eruption in Iceland.