A “tsunami of clouds” hits Portugal’s beaches
Rare roll cloud phenomenon advances over the ocean like a giant wave, captivating onlookers and spreading rapidly online.
On Sunday afternoon, beachgoers and surfers along Portugal’s coast witnessed a surreal and rare sight – a “tsunami of clouds” rolling in from the ocean, a phenomenon that quickly went viral on social media due to its uncanny resemblance to a giant movie-like wave.
What caused the cloud “tsunami”?
The striking cloud formation was spotted from several coastal towns, including Póvoa de Varzim, Vila do Conde and Figueira da Foz, leaving many beach visitors stunned. The horizontal mass of clouds moved steadily over the water, its crest curling like a wave ready to break – only this one glided silently through the sky.
According to Portugal’s Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA), the phenomenon was caused by a volutus cloud, more commonly known as a roll cloud. These rare tubular formations were only officially added to the World Meteorological Organization’s cloud atlas in 2017. “They’re clouds with a tubular structure that rotate around a horizontal axis, generated by thermal contrasts between the sea surface and the land,” IPMA explained in a statement.
Was “cloud tsunami” part of a storm?
The cloud began forming offshore around 3:30 p.m. local time, reaching the coast between 5:00 and 6:00 p.m., accompanied by wind gusts that enhanced its illusion of a massive wave sweeping across the sky. Despite its dramatic appearance, IPMA confirmed the formation posed no danger to the public and was not linked to any storm, tornado or extreme weather event.
New-generation Meteosat satellite images were able to capture the development and movement of the formation, which meteorologists associated with internal gravity waves in the lower layers of the atmosphere.
For now, the spectacle serves as a reminder of nature’s power and its ability to surprise – even on an otherwise ordinary afternoon of sun, surf and sand in Portugal.
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