Strangely shaped clouds that appeared during stormy weather in Kamloops this week are turning heads.

The clouds, known as mammatus clouds, were spotted Wednesday evening, around the same time as a thunder and lightning moved through the region.

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While their shape draws eyes, Environment Canada meteorologist Armel Castellan told Black Press Media that they are often associated with severe storms all over the world.

The shapes are caused by the instability and convection of violent vertical movements happening above the cloud, Castellan said.

sa国际传媒淭heysa国际传媒檙e really indicative of downdrafts in the cloud,sa国际传媒� he explained.

The clouds got their name based off the Latin word sa国际传媒渕amma,sa国际传媒� which means udder or breast.

They can be as large as three kilometres wide or as small as 1.5 kilometres and usually appear in the sky just before or after heavy downpour or strong winds.

sa国际传媒淭heysa国际传媒檙e a pretty magical little interlude in a severe thunderstorm element, which is fast moving - so itsa国际传媒檚 like a little pause moment,sa国际传媒� Castellan said.

Took this last night

sa国际传媒� Jeff the Giant (@SoxofWhite)

ashley.wadhwani@bpdigital.ca
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