One of the college courses I took was the fabulously named, “wind & weather for the serious yachtsman” and it was a meteorology course. If you’re in the ocean with no radio, you need to be able to read the sky. I loved it and have been a big sky-watcher ever since. 
The occurrence of these clouds is an indicator of moisture and instability at intermediate levels of 8,000-20,000 feet. As soon as I posted a picture of these clouds on my FB page, I noticed that others were posting them, too.
Our local investigative paper, Baltimore Brew had these two images.
An old sailing team mate, Pete Carrico, posted this from the Naval Academy in Annapolis.
Washington Cube, the pseudonym of a Washingtonian friend, posted this from the late afternoon.
My friend Mary, who writes Barn Bug Studio Blog, weighed in with this stunner,
To see some pictures of another unusual cloud formation from a few summers ago, click here.
My goodness. When we say What a beautiful today we have no idea why unless wind and weather for the serious yachtsman a student we be.
ReplyDeletewow - fabulous pics.
ReplyDeletefabulous sky!
DeleteI learn so much reading this blog.
ReplyDeletei am a font of useless information!
DeleteI got some beautiful shots of those clouds as the sun was going down yesterday. I had no idea that was their name. I liked my images so much that I started a painting of them as a baby gift for a little girl being born at that very minute.
ReplyDeletekerry - can't wait to see what you come up with!
DeleteAmazing pictures. Makes me want to paint skies!
ReplyDeletethis was certainly a sky to paint!
DeleteBeautiful! Always something interesting to learn from you. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteyou are quite welcome!
DeleteHi Meg,
ReplyDeleteThese images are soulful. Makes me want to return to life on the East Coast. Different skies and light and life. Thank you for waking me to such beauty. xoxo
Mary
i love east coast skies and our light!
DeleteHow funny -I noticed the sky too as I left work to meet some friends and as soon as I arrived -they too commented on the sky! Wish I had snapped a picture of it over the C&O canal as I left the office but I was in a hurry.
ReplyDeletevery unusual sky and i am glad people looked up to see it.
DeleteI saw them all over instagram yesterday. I know of mare's tails but I've never heard of mackerel sky before. Very interesting.
ReplyDeleteI will have to check my instagram feed.
DeleteThanks for including my pics, Meg. I had never heard the term, mackerel sky. It was just beautiful all day. Wish I'd stayed down by the river a little longer to see if all that red was reflected in the water. That second shot I took standing on my back steps. Love this time of year!
ReplyDeletethanks for letting me swipe your pix! i wish you'd seen the moon last night, too. low huge crescent moon.
DeleteMackerel sky, haven't heard that in years + my dad use to use it to describe the sky + beautiful shots.xxpeggybraswelldesign.com
ReplyDeleteIt's an old expression, but I love it.
DeleteThe Baltimore Sun ran an image with the story on the 200th homicide victim---- the photographer composed a dramatic picture as the camera was angled to capture the balloon, the building and the heavens above wearing this rare mackerel cloud cover.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post and I learned something too, thank you!
ReplyDeleteFrancie
Meg these are gorgeous images; those clouds are amazing!
ReplyDeletexoxo,
Karena
In with the Old: Jennifer Boles
Noticed the unusual sky here in New Market too. Thank you for posting.
ReplyDelete