Roll Cloud in Vila Nova de Gaia
One Unusual meteorological show surprised late Sunday afternoon the bathers who took advantage of the intense heat that was felt to spend the afternoon by the sea: a roller cloud that visited several beaches from the north of the country.
An imposing cloud rollerwith giant wave appearance, graduated in the late afternoon on various beaches of the national coast, causing strong winds and forcing many summer to hastily abandon the sand.
The phenomenon was spotted at different points on the coast, including the beaches of the Figueira da Foz, Póvoa de Varzim, Vila do Conde and Ovar.
Numerous images captured by the bathers were released on social networks, namely on the “” Facebook page, which published videos of the phenomenon on different beaches where the cloud roll was present.
The videos released clearly show the impact of the phenomenon: hats, awnings, towels and trees shake violently with the gusts of windWhile some bathers fled and others, more curious, recorded the exceptional moment.
Speaking to the newspaper, the meteorologist Paula Leitãofrom the Portuguese Institute of Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA), classified the event as “rare”In the national territory.
“This cloud that has rarely graduated, is not common. It is a situation that is described that happens, but rarely watch, much less in Portugal“Explained the meteorologist.
The cloud Stratocumulus rolledscientific denomination of the phenomenon, has an elongated tubular shape that moves horizontally, as if it were “rolling” over the ocean. It is formed through the interaction between relatively cold air that descends from the inside of the cloud with warmer air in the surrounding environment.
Although is not necessarily dangerousthe roll cloud indicates sudden changes in temperature, often associated with the arrival of cold fronts or the approach of storms.
The most famous examples occur in northern Australiawhere the roll clouds appear regularly between September and November. They can also be observed occasionally in other coastal regions around the world, especially where there is a meeting between sea and continental air masses.
