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Having seen the movie "Independence Day," you may be familiar with the scene when Will Smith casually turns his head and realizes a gigantic UFO is hovering over Los Angeles. This is the easiest way I can describe what Lenticular clouds look like from the summit of Mount Washington. When the fog recedes, we are often surprised by these massive clouds which hover downwind of Mount Washington, dominating the sky. Due to the unique character of these clouds, including their smooth, sharp outlines and the ability to "stand" in place it is no wonder why many people choose a comparison to UFO's.

Quite often we gush with delight over "beautiful lenticulars." In fact, the sheer thought of them alone is enough to make observers quiver like tuning forks. Make no mistake about it, Lenticular clouds are awesome. What amazes me the most about these clouds is the way they seemingly stand still, when in fact, air is continuously flowing (often at very high speeds) through these clouds. When air rises over a mountain (in this case, right past my bedroom window) condensation occurs. When the traveling air descends, evaporation promptly transpires, thus giving these UFO-like clouds their distinct hovering characteristic.

Fog and clarity continue their war, with fog gaining an edge in tonight's battle. Winds have become a bit more aggressive as well, gusting into the low nineties from time to time. With the brief shot of cold air looming, we will continue to enjoy our short glimpses of the stars while temperatures stay above zero.

Jeff De Rosa - Observer

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