Lenticular Clouds Lenticular clouds, with their distinctive lens shape, often hover over mountain ranges like alien ...

Technically called “cumulonimbus flammagenitus,” pyrocumulonimbus clouds are a rare weather ... which can lead to lightning. This produces thunder, rain, and occasionally even tornadoes.

Winds blowing up the side of mountainous terrain can provide the oomph necessary for cumulonimbus clouds robust enough to generate lightning.

“Lightning strikes are increasing,” Kato said. “Nowadays, cumulonimbus clouds form over wide areas, and thunderstorms with heavy downpours can occur several times every few hours.