Peculiar Lenticular Clouds

Lenticular Clouds over Lake Chelan, July 2025. Photo by Tracey Bartel

As a sky watcher, for birds, stars, meteor showers, the aurora borealis, and yes, sometimes UFOs, it’s always exciting to see cloud formations that look like they could be “other worldly.”

While recently visiting Lake Chelan, I was graced with the presence of UFO-looking clouds off in the distance. This got me curious about how these formations called “lenticular clouds” form. I learned that they form when strong, moist wind blows over rough terrain, such as mountains and valleys, causing the air to cool and condense to form disk-shaped clouds.

They were quite a wonder to see and now not quite so alien now I know how they are formed by Mother Nature.

Tracey Bartel
Agent & Sky Gazer