In a moment that felt ripped straight from the pages of a fantasy novel, a video of an eerie, black cloud drifting over Sydney has resurfaced and is once again going viral—despite being originally filmed in 2022. The strange weather formation, captured during a bout of gloomy skies and stormy winds, stirred the imagination of viewers worldwide, with many likening it to the infamous dementors from the Harry Potter series.
The bizarre spectacle showed what appeared to be a dark, shapeless mass hovering ominously above the city. Unsurprisingly, it left residents both curious and unnerved. In an age where social media fuels speculation and UFO sightings continue to dominate headlines, many couldn't help but wonder: what exactly is that thing?
What are these weird clouds?
As fantastical as it seemed, the truth behind the spooky sight is far more grounded in meteorology than magic. Experts identified the formation as a scud cloud—also known as pannus or fractus cloud. These clouds are typically found beneath larger storm clouds, forming in turbulent conditions, especially near the edge of a thunderstorm. Scuds are typically found at low altitudes, often below the main cloud deck. While the cloud in the video took an eerie look, scuds usually look like normal clouds which are heavy in weight.
They can appear jagged, detached, and erratic in motion, leading to frequent confusion with tornadoes or other ominous weather phenomena.
But here's the good news: scud clouds, for all their drama, are completely harmless. They don't rotate, they don’t signal doom, and they certainly don’t suck the soul out of anyone nearby.
Still, the haunting visuals were enough to send imaginations soaring. The video quickly reignited online chatter, drawing a mix of awe, humor, and concern. One user hilariously commented, “Growing up in the 80's we only had 4 or 5 cloud type.”
A second user said, “That…. my friend is a dementor.” Another also chimed in, “Preposterous! Everyone knows this is the sign that the Death Eaters are coming.”
A fourth user said, “Either someone’s thrown coloured water against a windscreen or it’s someone pretending the aliens have turned up.”
Another user went on an entirely different tangent. They said, “Ok now im convinced that we’re living in a simulation and that even the clouds are losing their texture packs now.”
The bizarre spectacle showed what appeared to be a dark, shapeless mass hovering ominously above the city. Unsurprisingly, it left residents both curious and unnerved. In an age where social media fuels speculation and UFO sightings continue to dominate headlines, many couldn't help but wonder: what exactly is that thing?
This unusual cloud spotted over Sydney, is nothing by a scud or pannus cloud.
— Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) October 16, 2023
[📹 Jon Wood / jonwooden]pic.twitter.com/hfHsnoW9AJ
What are these weird clouds?
As fantastical as it seemed, the truth behind the spooky sight is far more grounded in meteorology than magic. Experts identified the formation as a scud cloud—also known as pannus or fractus cloud. These clouds are typically found beneath larger storm clouds, forming in turbulent conditions, especially near the edge of a thunderstorm. Scuds are typically found at low altitudes, often below the main cloud deck. While the cloud in the video took an eerie look, scuds usually look like normal clouds which are heavy in weight.
They can appear jagged, detached, and erratic in motion, leading to frequent confusion with tornadoes or other ominous weather phenomena.
But here's the good news: scud clouds, for all their drama, are completely harmless. They don't rotate, they don’t signal doom, and they certainly don’t suck the soul out of anyone nearby.
Still, the haunting visuals were enough to send imaginations soaring. The video quickly reignited online chatter, drawing a mix of awe, humor, and concern. One user hilariously commented, “Growing up in the 80's we only had 4 or 5 cloud type.”
A second user said, “That…. my friend is a dementor.” Another also chimed in, “Preposterous! Everyone knows this is the sign that the Death Eaters are coming.”
A fourth user said, “Either someone’s thrown coloured water against a windscreen or it’s someone pretending the aliens have turned up.”
Another user went on an entirely different tangent. They said, “Ok now im convinced that we’re living in a simulation and that even the clouds are losing their texture packs now.”
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