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 /

    What's that cloud? Rare wave clouds seen in Hampshire

16:00
26 February 2023

What's that cloud?
Rare wave clouds seen in Hampshire

Kelvin-Helmholtz clouds
These rare wavy Kelvin-Helmholtz clouds were spotted in Hampshire earlier this week. - © Sue Davies

Appearing as waves in the sky, these rare clouds were spotted by a user in Hampshire earlier this month. Let's look at what makes them special.

Known as Kelvin-Helmholtz wave Clouds, these types of cloud only last for a few minutes before dissipating without a trace, which is exactly what user Sue Davies reported suggesting that the waves had lost their shape entirely shortly after the picture was taken.

Kelvin-Helmholtz clouds appear when the air is very unstable. They form 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.

These types of clouds can form anywhere that that the right conditions appear, just be quick with the camera to catch them before they vanish!

If you have spotted any odd or interesting clouds recently please send them in for us to take a look at next week! Use our uploader or send them direct through the app by tapping the camera icon.

Ryan Hathaway
More on the topic
Solar eclipse on Wednesday. Save the date. . . Monday, 10 August 2026
People are watching a solar eclipse. The sun is already partially obscured. Next to it is the weather radar forecast for Wednesday, showing an almost cloudless sky.
Monday, 10 August 2026

Save the date

Solar eclipse on Wednesday
Cooler nights on the horizon. For parts of Europe. . . Thursday, 6 August 2026
Temperature Radar showing the night-time lows in Central Europe. Cooler air is reaching the west and north in particular, whilst the south-east remains significantly warmer.
Thursday, 6 August 2026

For parts of Europe

Cooler nights on the horizon
Late season views as summer rolls on. Your weather - Your shots. . . Sunday, 9 August 2026
Split image showing a horseback ride along a green hillside trail beneath blue skies on the left and a small sailboat on a calm coastal bay under broken clouds on the right.
Sunday, 9 August 2026

Your weather - Your shots

Late season views as summer rolls on
All weather news
This might also interest you
Historic Storm Éowyn arrives. On this day.... . . Saturday, 24 January 2026
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
Bright and warm conditions take hold. Spring-like outlook. . . Thursday, 23 April 2026
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
Super Typhoon Bavi threatens Taiwan. Up to 1,000 mm of rain. . . Wednesday, 8 July 2026
The image shows an intense tropical cyclone over the western Pacific, east of Taiwan and the Philippines. The centre of the system is depicted as a light purple and white vortex with a clearly visible eye, surrounded by a ring of red and orange areas indicating the strongest wind speeds. A white arrow marks the typhoon’s predicted track towards the north-west, in the direction of Taiwan. To the west of the storm lie the Philippines, with the cities of Manila and Cebu; to the north of these lies Taiwan, with Taipei. Further west, the Chinese coast, including Hong Kong, and parts of Vietnam can be seen. The coloured wind map shows predominantly green areas outside the storm’s core, indicating significantly weaker winds. White streamlines illustrate the typhoon’s anti-clockwise circulation in the Northern Hemisphere. The highest wind speeds are concentrated around the eye of the cyclone.
Wednesday, 8 July 2026

Up to 1,000 mm of rain

Super Typhoon Bavi threatens Taiwan
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