March 2012
Florida Fog
This month’s dramatic image of stratus cloud pouring over condominiums, was observed initially by helicopter pilot Mike Schaeffer. He was completing a sightseeing tour when he spotted this strange weather phenomenon along Panama City Beach, Florida. On landing, he told the helicopter company owner, J.R. Hott, about the cloud formation and they both went up for a better view. They moved quickly, knowing that this beautiful effect could only occur in very specific weather conditions.
The fog formation has since been described in the media as a “cloud tsunami” but J.R. disagrees with this name. “The term tsunami implies a natural disaster,” he explained, “but this cloud effect, though it can form quickly, moves in a gradual manner. It only occurs in the presence of a gentle breeze.”
Photograph © JR Hott.
Dr Sir Count Capt
March 7, 2012at12:42 pmi am awesome
yeh
March 7, 2012at12:44 pmno u r not
Dr Sir Count Capt
March 8, 2012at12:05 pmi am
Gravitology
March 17, 2012at9:46 amEver wonder where clouds go? It’s so interesting to observe those H2O molecules, always on the go, being ‘called’ here and there, gravitating universally.
JR
March 17, 2012at9:06 pmAre the ground-level clouds (like umbrellas over the high-rise buildings) caused by airconditioning, by any chance?
Elsie Watkins
March 18, 2012at2:56 amIts a spectacular picture. I’ve not seen any as good as that yet? I will keep on looking skywards.
Elsie Watkins
March 18, 2012at2:58 amIts a spectacular picture. I have not seen any as good as that yet? i will will keep on looking sky wards.
Anonymous
March 18, 2012at8:31 amI say yes to air-con influence and moist air from sea rising over condos = cloud? Pretty picture, ugly condos, great effect. Thnx Mr Shaeffer
María
March 19, 2012at8:21 am¡Maravillosa imagen!
Russ Gaulin
March 26, 2012at5:53 pmI would not think the air condition has an effect here, though I am strictly an amateur. AC causes heat outside of the buildings, which would make the fog dissipate and rise, but here it is climbing over the obstacles and then falling back down. Warmer water, cooler air and a gentle landward breeze looks like all the explanation needed. Great picture, thanks for yet another one.
anonymous
March 27, 2012at9:18 pmThis is a superb photo despite the ugly condos. I love it!
If you want to see some scary dark fog rolling in overhead like a horrible gigantic city eating tsunami, try standing in South San Francisco in the Summer when the monster fog wave blows in like a hurricane over the hills from the ocean. It’s creepy scary. You want to RUN!!!!!
bhesper
April 8, 2012at4:40 amGreat! Something else from being in an old-fashioned ‘peasoup’.
This is a brilliant fog! The fogs of fogs I’ve seen so far.
Michael
June 5, 2012at2:19 pmDuring the day the ground inland warms up faster than the ocean, so there is an inland blowing breeze. The ocean will make the air humid, so the air going inland will cool down, causing the fog.
radiometeolibera tv
March 8, 2013at9:34 pmbellissima immagine
alessandro barbolini
March 8, 2013at9:35 pmottima scelta..grandissimo sito