Strange cloud formations attract attention around city
STRANGE cloud formations have been appearing over the city in recent days.
Clouds with a spotty appearance appeared in the sky and Bureau of meteorology Meteorologist Mark Trenorden said the rare cloud formations appeared related to the cold atmospheric temperatures conditions experienced recently.
He said the layered clouds were most likely alto-cumulous - generated by some mid-level atmospheric instability.
Highfields residents Terry Ledbury also spotted a strange cloud on Sunday about lunch time.
But it wasn't the formation that caught his attention, it was the brilliant bright colours.
He said he had never seen anything like it.
"I was in my outdoor area when my wife looked up and spotted it," he said.
"It was totally fascinating. The colours were absolutely brilliant, it looked like a rainbow that had gotten lost somehow.
"It took about an hour to dissipate and it was a spectacular sight."
Mr Trenorden had an explanation for the colourful cloud.
"The coloured clouds is iridescence produced by the diffraction of sunlight by small ice crystals," he said.
