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.

B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e really indicative of downdrafts in the cloud,B次元官网网址� he explained.

The clouds got their name based off the Latin word B次元官网网址渕amma,B次元官网网址� 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.

B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e a pretty magical little interlude in a severe thunderstorm element, which is fast moving - so itB次元官网网址檚 like a little pause moment,B次元官网网址� Castellan said.

Took this last night

B次元官网网址� Jeff the Giant (@SoxofWhite)

ashley.wadhwani@bpdigital.ca
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