A peak in the clouds Mar 23, 2020

A peak in the clouds

World Meteorological Day brings us to Washington"s Mount Rainier, a huge stratovolcano with a habit of creating its own weather systems. Jutting out about 2 miles above the surrounding landscape, its high altitude interrupts the flow of air that comes in off the Pacific Ocean, creating dramatic weather such as the saucer-shaped clouds on our homepage. They"re called lenticular clouds, and because of their distinctive appearance, they"ve been suggested as an explanation for some UFO sightings. Thanks to the science of meteorology, we know they"re a normal weather phenomenon, commonly occurring on the downwind side of obstructions such as mountains, buildings, or other tall structures.

© Delrious/Shutterstock

palette

Today in History

Mar 23, 2018Happy World Meteorological Day
Mar 23, 2019What happened to these clouds?
Mar 23, 2021Uncommon clouds are gathering
Mar 23, 2022World Meteorological Day
Mar 23, 2023World Meteorological Day
Mar 23, 2024World Meteorological Day
Mar 23, 2025World Meteorological Day
Mar 23, 2026World Meteorological Day

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Nov 19, 2018A narrow passage
Nov 9, 2019We heart Berlin
Sep 25, 2021Autumn comes to the Porcupines
Apr 27, 2025Halemaumau Crater, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Aug 22, 2024Ocean City, Maryland, at sunrise
Apr 20, 2025Happy Easter!
Mar 10, 2020A festival of colors
Feb 26, 2022Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
Oct 3, 2021Birthplace of Roman emperors
Jun 17, 2025Maritime forest in Cumberland Island National Seashore, Georgia
Jan 12, 2025Crescent-tail bigeye fish, Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Apr 19, 2021Rays on parade
May 21, 2022Albion Falls, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Jul 28, 2019Road-trip worthy attraction in the heartland
Apr 5, 2026Easter Sunday
Sep 26, 2020Wandering Watkins Glen
Oct 25, 2025Martimoaapa Mire Reserve, Finland
Oct 16, 2020It s harvest time on World Food Day
Dec 5, 2024Tufa formations in Mono Lake, California
Jul 6, 2023International Kissing Day
May 5, 2019Celebrating Mexico in a Cultural Capital
Aug 9, 2024International Day of the Worlds Indigenous Peoples
Dec 17, 2022Mountain goats at Glacier National Park in Montana
Dec 18, 2024English National Ballet performing The Nutcracker
Feb 12, 2018National Museum of African American History and Culture
Jun 20, 2022Pollinator Week
May 27, 2021Listening to the sea
Jan 4, 2019Observing World Braille Day in Bavaria
Sep 12, 2025In the Red Sea for World Dolphin Day
Aug 10, 2023World Lion Day