Rare wave clouds captured in North Yorkshire sky

A rare cloud formation resembling waves in the sky has been seen across North Yorkshire.

The billowy phenomenon was captured on camera in Cawthorn on Tuesday night by a BBC weather watcher.

Known as Kelvin-Helmholtz clouds, they form when a faster stream of air moves above rising air below.

According to the Met Office website, Kelvin-Helmholtz clouds are “an extremely rare phenomenon”.

They are named after two physicists – Hermann von Helmholtz and William Thomson, who was also known as Lord Kelvin – studied the physics behind cloud formations.

The Met Office said: “Kelvin Helmholtz clouds, or fluctus clouds, are quite rare.

“These clouds are more likely to be seen on windy days when there is a difference in density of the air.

“They also indicate instability in the atmosphere, which can help identify areas of turbulence for aircraft.”

They added: “This phenomenon, whilst rare, has also been spotted in cloud patterns on Jupiter, within Saturn’s bands and on the sun’s corona.”