Picture of the Day: Texas Roll Cloud

 

 

 

Spotted on November 4, 2013 (7:30 am local time) in Canyon, Texas, was this amazing roll cloud on the northern horizon. The cloud was photographed by Kenneth Cole Schneider who was en route to Alburquerque when he noticed the fast-moving cloud.

The rare cloud formation is one of the Sifter’s favourites (seen previously here, here and here). For those curious, Wikipedia explains:

“A roll cloud is a low, horizontal, tube-shaped, and relatively rare type of arcus cloud. They differ from shelf clouds by being completely detached from other cloud features. Roll clouds usually appear to be “rolling” about a horizontal axis. They are a solitary wave called a soliton, which is a wave that has a single crest and moves without changing speed or shape.”