Cape's close encounter of cloud kind

10 November 2015 - 02:02 By Aarti J Narsee

Cape Town has made international headlines for the unusual UFO-like cloud formations that were seen over the city at the weekend. Yesterday, CNN reported on the "brilliant show" of cloud in the Mother City.CNN meteorologist Derek van Damme posted on Facebook: "Have you seen the alien space craft hovering over the mother city today? Fear not! You are NOT about to be abducted. These are fairly common clouds."Henning Grobler, senior forecaster at the Cape Town Weather Bureau, said the lenticular clouds formed under certain circumstances, which included a stable temperature and strong winds.Pockets of moisture blow up the mountain, then cool and condense. This occurs repeatedly to form layers of cloud.While the layers appear to be on top of each other, they have space in between them, said Grobler."This doesn't happen every day, but you can get these clouds throughout the year as they are not seasonal."On social media locals posted pictures of the beautiful sight. One likened the clouds to a "tornado on pause mode". Another said: "Right now above my head! The strangest most amazing UFO-shaped cloud."..

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