This remarkable picture comes to us from John and Andrea Skillman of Gurnee. It was taken while vacationing in Alaska on the east side of Resurrection Bay in Seward. The Skillman's first spotted this cloud while eating dinner and aptly describe it as a mushroom cloud. It's more technically referred to as an orographic cloud---one which is induced as terrain forces air to rise---a process which leads to cooling and condensation of airborne moisture produces clouds such as this. They report it dissipated a short time later as the sun set. John and Andrea add that Alaska is a great place for seeing weather----which is absolutely true! THANKS SO MUCH to the Skillmans for such a fascinating photo!
Tom Skilling
Tom Skilling
Photo courtesy of John and Andrea Skillman, Gurnee
