Spectacular cascade of clouds spills across volcanic island
La Palma’s unique terrain can give rise to a fascinating cloud formation when conditions are just right
Folks on a volcanic island in the Atlantic Ocean were treated to a stunning display this week as sheets of clouds cascaded over the region’s rugged terrain.
The peaks of La Palma are perfectly situated to create this apparent waterfall of clouds when all the right conditions align.
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La Palma is part of Spain’s Canary Islands, an archipelago located off the northwestern coast of Africa.
Known locally in Spanish as a cascada de nubes—a cloud cascade—the phenomenon occurs when moist easterly winds flow up and over the island’s sharp mountain peaks.
Cooler temperatures at elevation condense the moisture into clouds, which then follow the swift winds down the other side of the terrain.
Each cascada de nubes is worth a gander. “The rugged terrain and the contrasts in light and humidity make each episode unique,” wrote Javier Castaño for El Tiempo, The Weather Network’s Spain-based sister station.
Mountains in several other spots around the world can create similar spectacles.
Numerous locations across Japan are famed for their ‘cloud waterfalls,’ including the mountains near the city of Uonuma, about 185 km northwest of Tokyo.
A similar formation known as a banner cloud is common over the Rock of Gibraltar.
Header image of the phenomenon in June 2021 courtesy of Unsplash.