Thursday, October 28, 2010

The Storm That Didn't, for Skywatch


We were warned about this storm, which passed through last week. It had the potential for some real damage, with high winds up to 60 mph, large hail, and possible tornadoes. I felt very brave going out to photograph it and at times didn't know whether I should keep on shooting or run home and crawl under the bed.

However, despite some dramatic flashes of lightning deep down in the belly of those monstrous clouds, there was always clear sky above my head. The moon looked down on the boiling storm a-borning, and all seemed pretty calm from where I stood.

Then the clouds moved away toward the east and I never heard anything about storm damage, just reports of some October snowfall on Sierra Blanca Peak, over near Ruidoso. It was the really, really big storm that just... didn't!

Please be sure that you click on the photos to enlarge them.





For stormy skies and calm ones, be sure to visit Skywatch Friday.

45 comments:

T Fab P said...

Very Spectacular Pix Clairz...

Deb from WhatsInMyAttic said...

Clair, I'm having terrible Internet problems so I've not been actively blogging, but I had to comment on these pics! Incredible! Now I hope I can get this posted befor the gremlins attack!

matron said...

Absolutely stunning pictures,I am glad you were not on the receiving end of this storm.You were very brave to go out and take these shots not knowing if the storm would break.
Carolyn.

Unknown said...

stunner!

JC said...

Gorgeous !!!
Glad it didn't actually turn into a wild storm ...

Sylvia K said...

These are absolutely glorious, Clair! Such drama in the sky! Amazing! And your photos are truly superb! I agree, I wouldn't have known whether to keep shooting or run hide!! I hope I would be as brave as you and keep shooting! We have lots of dramatic skies here in Seattle, but I've never seen any skies anywhere that can match these! Glad the storm just showed off for you and went it's own way without doing any damage! Have a wonderful weekend!

Sylvia

Sara at Come Away With Me said...

What gorgeous, amazing photos! I just stopped by from visiting "Occasional Scotland"

Nan said...

Whew! You are a great photographer, Clair!
These pictures should be entered in contests. Really.

Sandy ~~~ said...

Holy moly...so, uh, magnificent, huh? I can't wait to get moved to NM so there are SKY pictures to take. Here you just point toward the sky and get your lens covered with rrrrrrrrain.

Rajesh said...

Breathtaking views. I am glad storm did not result in havoc.

Carolyn Ford said...

Whoa...that looks like a sky with some real attitude! I love how you captured the moon just standing by so innocently...wow, these are great!
I am glad that this storm was for looks only, not much action!

Steffi said...

Stunning!Simple beautiful photos!What for clouds and colours!Perfect photos for SWF!
Have a nice weekend!

Anonymous said...

It almost looks like an atomic blast! Incredible & amazingly beautiful! Can't believe it didn't produce nasty storms or damage, but that's how I like it to happen - all the glory of it for the photographers, but without the damage!!!

EG CameraGirl said...

Sounds like the horrible storm we were supposed to get that didn't happen. I'm sooo grateful for that! But the weather did bring some fantastic sunsets!

VALKYRIEN said...

OMG - this is awesome! That first shot tok my breath away, and for the rest...I am still struggling with my breath...:)

Rune A Karlsen (Bildebloggen) said...

Wow, spectacular images of the clouds, very pretty colors!

giorno26 ¸¸.•*¨*•. said...

Hi :)
gorgeous landscape !
Bye Myriam

Linda said...

That is THE most awesome Skwatch I've seen. And in the UK we don't really use 'awesome' that much - it's reserved for things which are worthy of awe.

Look at that funny rolling edge to the top of the cloud. I'm sure it must have a long Latin name. Off to my Cloudspotter's Guide to check it out.

Awesome.

Kim, USA said...

Wow looks like gold is melting here. Great picture!
Sky Watch

Al said...

That is an impressive looking storm, I'm glad it didn't do any damage. Perfect Skywatch Friday photos!

Yogi♪♪♪ said...

Outstanding photographs. I love the moon with them.

Judy said...

Those are some dramatic clouds, all right, and I love the colours! Such an intense golden colour! And the moon peeking down just adds the icing to the cake!

Laura said...

Stunningly beautiful colors! Wow!

Owlfarmer said...

Had I seen your post before I submitted mine, I probably wouldn't have bothered. These are gorgeous shots--and another reason to live in the desert instead of among all these bloody trees. I was rather amused at the similarities between our topics this week, but I'm really glad you don't include a cat obituary--or things would begin to seem really (appropriately?) spooky.

becky said...

Clair,
these are INSANELY BEAUTIFUL! Enter them in weatherwise magazine next year!!

Val said...

Amazing!!!! These storms have been so strange!

becky said...

ps,
the top one is my fave... it's a winner for sure!

Linda Jacobs said...

Wow, wonderful cloud pics! The colors are so intense and that moon is spectacular! very dramatic!

Pat said...

Wow!!! These are spectacular shots. I've never seen such dramatic orange clouds. Great captures!

Quiet Paths said...

Those anvil shaped clouds are usually trouble. I'm glad they were not trouble in your particular area. Each on of these is so dramatic! Wonderful photos, lady. The one with the moon is just awesome.

Liz said...

Fabulous captures!

Liz @ A Simple Life

Kelli said...

that is a very dramatic sky!

Kay L. Davies said...

Clair, these are some of the most unusual sky photos I've ever seen. Those colors, and the layers ...wow! Just amazing! So glad it didn't turn into tornados, however.

BraCom said...

Beautiful SkyWatch posting!
thank you for sharing this beautiful photo work


Happy SWF! Have a good weekend,

Regards, Bram

My SkyWatch on WordPress

Seen on Sky Watch Friday, Season 4, Episode 16

eileeninmd said...

Awesome captures! The dramatic clouds do look scary.

Anonymous said...

I wish that contest was still going on because these would surely win! I have never seen pictures of clouds like this before. These are wonderful. I saw where you put the hanging dolls on facebook. lol. When I was looking for your blog in my blogroll this morning I could not find it. I thought you had been jinxed and the dolls removed your name! Have a good weekend.

DrillerAA09 said...

Incredible photo set. Excellent work.

Anonymous said...

Hey Clairz,
Beautiful pictures!

Good news. You are the Hungry Hound giveaway winner! Please e-mail me at gacountrygirl75 at gmail dot com with the address you would like the feeder shipped to and we can ship it out today.
Thanks for entering.
Have a great weekend.
Pam

GreensboroDailyPhoto said...

I think just about everyone before me has said what I would say; however, just had to let you know that the thumbnail is fabulous too. So great that it draws you in!

Arija said...

So glad you held your nerve, the possibility for those kind of brilliant shots does not often present itself.

Thank you for sharing these wonders of nature with us.

Anonymous said...

What a breathtaking scenery!
I can imagine you won't forget this for the rest of your life.
Thanks for sharing and enjoy your weekend!

Shirley said...

Astounding! If I had to select a favourite it would the second to last photo. Words don't do it justice.

http://graceolsson.com/blog said...

no more than: MARVELOUS!!!!!!!
http://graceolsson.com/blog/2010/10/zanzibar-think-twice/

Anonymous said...

I'm... speechless! Totally amazing work here, especially the shots with the Sandias - thinking of them as a largish mountain range really gives that storm scale - and the moon puts them WAY over the top!!!

Wow, and WOW, Clairz!

clairz said...

Dear Cunning, It was no work at all on my part, the sky did all the amazing stuff. Those tiny mountains down there are the Organs, by the way. All 9000 feet of them, which tells you something about the height of those clouds.