Mammatus Clouds

Eerie bubble-like pouches that hang from the underside of storm clouds/Weather & Climate

Mammatus clouds are pouch-like protrusions hanging from the underside of cumulonimbus or other cloud types, creating a dramatic, almost otherworldly appearance. Each 'mammatus' (from the Latin for 'breast') is typically 1 to 3 km across and extends about 0.5 km below the cloud base. They form when cold, dense air sinks into warmer, less dense air below the cloud, creating the characteristic rounded lobes. While they often appear in association with severe weather, mammatus clouds themselves are not dangerous. They are most commonly seen in the central United States during spring and summer, often after the passage of strong thunderstorms.