Home
Weather London
WeatherRadar
RainfallRadar
TemperatureRadar
WindRadar
LightningRadar
Weather News
Editor's Pick
Discover the app
Weather widget
Contact us
Apps
Career
    Home / Editor's Pick /

    Waves in the sky - Kelvin-Helmholtz clouds over Swansea

09:00
6 May 2026

Waves in the sky
Kelvin-Helmholtz clouds over Swansea

Kelvin-Helmholtz wave clouds forming rolling crest shapes above modern buildings under a clear blue sky, with smooth white cloud bands resembling breaking ocean waves.
Wave clouds pictured over Swansea. - © Carole Saunders

Crashing waves are usually spotted off the coast on windy days, but every so often the skies above can bring an altogether different type of waves.

Spotted over Swansea, Wales, wave clouds or Kelvin-Helmholtz clouds are quick to form and quick to disappear without a trace soon after.

These clouds appear when the air is very unstable. Forming when faster-moving, warm air flows over slower-moving, colder, and denser air. If the speed at which the warm air travels over the colder air is fast enough, the undulating wave-like formation in the cloud appears.

This phenomenon can be spotted anywhere - just be quick at getting your picture!

Ryan Hathaway
More on the topic
Weather map of the USA showing an active thunderstorm front between Kansas City and Minneapolis. Numerous lightning symbols indicate severe thunderstorms, along with a severe weather warning symbol.
Monday, 18 May 2026

Tornadoes possible

Dangerous thunderstorm front over the US
Temperature map of the UK and western Europe showing warm orange conditions with temperatures above 20°C, alongside thermometer and UV icons indicating strong sunshine and elevated UV levels.
Wednesday, 20 May 2026

Sunday peak

UV levels soar over Bank Holiday weekend
Split weather graphic showing radar-detected rain and lightning across northern England on the left and a yellow thunderstorm warning area over eastern England on the right, with a central warning symbol.
Tuesday, 19 May 2026

Hail possible too

Continued thunderstorm risk
All weather news
This might also interest you
Split image showing a person in a yellow jacket struggling against strong winds and heavy rain on a street at night on the left, and an Irish wind forecast map on the right with red and purple shading, gusts up to 75 mph, and a wind warning icon, divided by a curved white line.
Saturday, 24 January 2026

On this day...

Historic Storm Éowyn arrives
Split UK map showing warm temperatures up to 21 degrees in orange on the left and clear sunny conditions with temperatures from 12 to 18 degrees on the right, with sun icons across the country.
Thursday, 23 April 2026

Spring-like outlook

Bright and warm conditions take hold
Outline of Santa Claus with a yellow and white hat, "Ho-Ho-Ho" next to the outline above a Christmas tree.
Thursday, 25 December 2025

Merry Christmas!

Wishes from Weather & Radar
All articles
Weather & Radar

Weather & Radar is also available on

Google Play StoreApp Store

Company

Contact us Privacy Policy Legal info Accessibility statement

Services

Uploader

Socials

facebooktwittertikToklinkList