Gigantic roller cloud over Portugal: Beach visitors excited!

Gigantic roller cloud over Portugal: Beach visitors excited!

At the weekend, a meteorological natural phenomenon was observed on the beaches in the north and center of Portugal, which amazed many beach visitors. An impressive roller cloud pulled across the coast, which, according to Portuguese media, resembled a tidal wave. This horizontal, tubular cloud formation moves from the sea to the country near the ground and ensures spectacular pictures.

The roller cloud, also known as the scientific name "Volutus", was created under special atmospheric conditions. These often arise from the interaction of warm and cold air and in connection with cold fronts. Experts report that the characteristic rolling movement of the cloud is caused by different wind layers. Although roller clouds are a rare phenomenon, they still occur regularly in certain regions of the world, such as the Australian Gulf of Carpentaria. NASA scientists have also documented the phenomenon in New Zealand.

observations and reactions

The spectacle started over the Atlantic around 3:30 p.m. before the cloud reached the Portuguese mainland between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. Users shared their impressions on social media, and a user on the platform X described the roller cloud as "broke in like a tsunami". People held the cloud with their mobile phones and grabbed their beach things.

The Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmospheric Research (IPMA) said that the appearance of such clouds on the Portuguese coast was unusual. Meteorologists also emphasize that roll clouds do not run a direct danger, but can go hand in hand with strong wind and abrupt weather changes.

similar phenomena worldwide

roller clouds cannot only be observed in Portugal. A remarkable example is the "Morning Glory Cloud" in the Australian Gulf of Carpentaria. This shape of the roller cloud reaches heights of up to 2 kilometers and lengths of up to 1,000 kilometers. The exact conditions for the development are not fully clarified, but the clouds can travel at speeds of up to 60 km/h and often occur between September and October. Interestingly, such cloud phenomena are also documented in other countries such as Mexico and Brazil.

The fascinating appearance of these clouds attracts the interest of meteorologists, photographers and adventurers alike. The visibility of "Morning Glory" is highest at dusk, and you can appear in groups of up to ten successive roller clouds. The exciting complexity behind the creation of this atmosphere miracle remains an issue of intensive research and admiration.