Formation and Deformation of a Lenticular Cloud

I watched a Lenticular cloud forming today...

... as I sat on the back patio.

High winds aloft sculpted the flat saucer looking shape...

As time went by the shape became more defined as a smooth cushion with clouds below giving it a mushroom look

I looked these clouds up in Wikipedia and this is what I found:

"Lenticular clouds (Altocumulus lenticularis) are stationary lens-shaped clouds that form at high altitudes, normally aligned perpendicular to the wind direction. Lenticular clouds can be separated into altocumulus standing lenticularis (ACSL), stratocumulus standing lenticular (SCSL), and cirrocumulus standing lenticular (CCSL). Due to their shape, they are often mistaken as Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs)."

"Where stable moist air flows over a mountain or a range of mountains, a series of large-scale standing waves may form on the downwind side. If the temperature at the crest of the wave drops to the dew point, moisture in the air may condense to form lenticular clouds. "

This particular cloud unlike the one we saw over Mount Shasta formed and was gone withing 30 minutes The one over Mount Shasta lasted at least 3 hours maybe longer.

Within minutes the left side of the cloud began to stream away ...

...causing the cloud to slowly break up into wisps...

... as the formation began to elongate.

As the cloud began to reshape itself it began to slowly move north...

... as the backside (the left) streamed away ...

...smaller clouds formed and took on a diamond shape with what looked like thin tornado looking edges.

This really light looking cloud broke off from the main cloud...

 

... at the lenticular cloud became even more elongated and slowly drifted north.

With no more clouds I did get a picture of a Quail in the peach tree and ...

... thought about the spectacular Lenticular cloud over Mont Shasta.

Quote of the Day ~

“Happiness is like a cloud, if you stare at it long enough, it evaporates” ~ Sarah McLachlan