Clouds Fill Grand Canyon During Rare Weather Phenomenon

Jan 08, 2020 by apost team

The Grand Canyon is an incredible sight to behold all on it's own, but a rare weather phenomenon known as a cloud inversion and described as a cloud tidal wave makes the view even more spectacular. Captured on film and sped up in a timelapse for all to enjoy, the incredible view is even more wonderful to witness, and it just so happened that someone was able to film the special event and shared it to social media.

In the video the entire open area of the Grand Canyon is filled with clouds, and those clouds seem to fill the canyon almost entirely up to the rim. As the timelapse progresses, the clouds seem to roll in like a tide, and at times even appear to come in and out of the rim edge like waves.

Eventually the cloud tide rolls back into the canyon until they disappear entirely, but the phenomenon is breathtaking to witness from above and probably disorienting if you are hiking in the canyon.

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According to Live Science, The weather phenomenon occurs when cool air and moisture get trapped under a layer of warm air. Because the canyon is carved into the landscape, the cool air that fills it overnight has the potential to be trapped as the day breaks and the air temperature warms up.

This trapped air forms clouds in the Canyon and also clouds on the ground. As the day progresses and the temperatures meet, the cloud tide action begins and the clouds seem to move like water on a shore.

This doesn't just happen in the mornings though, it is actually more often an occurrence at night, when the temperature drops even faster as the sun goes down. No matter what time of day it occurs, it draws people in to see the view because not many have ever seen it in their lifetimes. Even though it might seem like a truly unique occurrence, it is actually the same way fog and smog are formed.

The National Weather Service says one of the more harmful side effects of this particular event is the clouds' ability to trap pollutants low to the ground with the clouds as they form. This is how smog ends up choking communities and areas that it forms over. With no way to escape, the pollutants and toxins create smog and make it difficult for people and animals to breath.

What do you think about this phenomenon in the Grand Canyon? Would you like to see it? Tell us below. Pass this article on to your friends and family to see what they think.