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

Kelvin-Helmholtz Clouds: Waves in the sky

16:00
20 June 2022

Kelvin-Helmholtz Clouds
Waves in the sky

Kelvin-Holmholtz cloudKelvin-Helmholtz clouds spotted over Yorkshire in 2022. - © Paul Foster

This is a fantastic and rare shot of a wave-crashing cloud captured over Ingleton, North Yorkshire by a Weather & Radar user, do you know what they are?

Known as Kelvin-Helmholtz Wave Clouds, these types of cloud only last for a few minutes before dissipating without a trace.

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 of the cloud appears.

These types of clouds can be spotted anywhere but vanish as quickly as they appear, so you need to be quick on the trigger!

If you spot waves in the clouds, or any natural spectacle, we would love to see! Submit images and videos using our uploader.

Weather & Radar editorial team
More on the topic
Split image with Cromer Pier at sunset on the left in soft orange-blue tones and a moonlit Canterbury church with dramatic clouds on the right, lit by a streetlamp.
Sunday 5 April 2026

Your weather - Your shots

Spring captured after the clock change
Wind map of the UK and Ireland showing a deep low-pressure system, Storm Dave, with red-orange zones and strong gusts up to 55 mph, plus a windsock warning icon indicating hazardous conditions.
Saturday 4 April 2026

Severe overnight gales

Storm Dave makes impact
Split weather graphic showing a low-pressure system with tight isobars over the UK on the left and a wind map on the right with strong gusts up to 90 mph, plus a windsock warning icon.
Thursday 2 April 2026

Gales and blizzards

Storm Dave disrupts Easter weekend
All weather news
This might also interest you
Split image showing aerial flooding in a town with muddy water covering roads on the left, and a rural road on the right blocked by heavy snowfall with vans stopped and a person walking in snow.
Tuesday 27 January 2026

Storm Chandra

Flooding, gales, and heavy snow
Split weather map showing UK wind speeds in orange-red shades up to 40 mph on the left and warning levels in green-yellow on the right, with a central wind warning sign.
Wednesday 22 October 2025

Warnings active

Storm Benjamin impacts the UK
UK temperature map dated 14.02 showing widespread subzero values in blue shading, with readings such as −4 in Glasgow, −3 in Dublin, and −2 in London, alongside a blue thermometer icon.
Friday 13 February 2026

Icy conditions

A frozen start to the weekend
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

facebooktwitteryouTubelinkList