Jellyfish clouds
© Cristian CarvajalAltocumulus Castellanus clouds
Rare clouds in the shape of jellyfish have baffled many skywatchers after being spotted in the sky of Chile on March 12, 2016.The unusual clouds known as Altocumulus Castellanus have a unique shape complete with tentacles and may announce bad weather coming in... Or the next big quake?


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Weather-watchers were stunned when these rare but weird clouds appeared in the skies above Punitaqui, Limari, Ovalle, Coquimbo and La Serena, Chile in the evening sun.

Although these jellyfish certainly prove a stunning sight, they however signify danger up ahead and stormy weather may soon close in.
Jellyfish clouds
© Cristian Carvajal
The rare clouds' unique "jellyfish" shape forms when moist air gets trapped between layers of dry air.

The top of the cloud rises into a jellyfish shape and long tentacles known as "trailing virga" form from rain drops that have evaporated.

They are a spectacular sight and look like bobbing jellyfish. They are a very, very rare sight.

These probably developed as a result of recent tropical storms in the Pacific. So that may be where all this moisture has come from...

And these clouds may well be signalling some stormy weather for next week.
Jellyfish clouds
© Cristian Carvajal