Early risers in the Vega Baja were treated to an unusual sight this morning when a cloud appeared to sit neatly on top of the Sierra de Callosa.
The striking formation appeared on Thursday 24 September, with photographs taken from Cox showing what looked rather like a white cap resting across the top of the mountain.
MeteOrihuela shared the images on social media, describing the formation as a “nube gorro o de capuchón”, literally a “hat” or “hood” cloud.
With otherwise clear skies surrounding the sierra, the isolated cloud stood out particularly well as the morning light reached the mountain.
So what causes a cloud to sit on a mountain?
Although it looks unusual, there is a meteorological explanation for the mountain’s temporary headwear.
Mountains can force moist air upwards. As that air rises, it expands and cools. If it cools sufficiently, the water vapour condenses into tiny droplets and a cloud forms.
Under the right conditions, the resulting cloud can hug the summit or appear to drape itself over the top of the mountain.
This type of cloud is generally known as a cap cloud, with the mountain itself playing an important role in its formation.
MeteOrihuela noted that Thursday morning’s cloud showed slightly less development than previous examples, but it still produced an impressive sight above the Vega Baja.
Photographed from Cox
The photographs were taken from Cox, giving a clear view towards the Sierra de Callosa and its unusual covering.
What makes the images particularly striking is the contrast. Much of the surrounding sky appears clear, while the cloud remains concentrated around the upper part of the mountain.
It is one of those weather phenomena that can look far more dramatic than the science behind it. There was no mysterious cloud descending on the Vega Baja. The combination of moist air, rising terrain and cooling simply gave the Sierra de Callosa a rather fetching morning hat.
And, unlike most hats, this one disappeared when the weather conditions changed.
Bridging the Gap’s recap
- A striking cloud appeared over the Sierra de Callosa on Thursday 24 September.
- Photographs taken from Cox showed the cloud sitting across the summit.
- MeteOrihuela described it as a “nube gorro o de capuchón”, or hat/hood cloud.
- These clouds can form when mountains force moist air upwards.
- As the air rises and cools, water vapour can condense and create cloud around the summit.
- Clear skies surrounding the mountain made Thursday morning’s formation particularly easy to see.
- The phenomenon may look peculiar, but it has a perfectly natural meteorological explanation.
