An unusual meteorological formation caught attention last Saturday in the skies of Ponte de Sor. It was a so-called cloud shelf, a phenomenon associated with the approach of intense storm fronts.
The images were published by the Meteo Trás os Montes page and show a dense, horizontal and imposing-looking cloud dominating the horizon. According to the platform’s explanation, this type of cloud is a classic visual sign of the arrival of a gust front linked to active convective systems.
Despite its threatening appearance, the shelf cloud is distinguished from other more dangerous formations by appearing on the periphery of the storm and not in its core. Even so, its presence usually precedes sudden changes in the weather, such as strong winds, intense rain and, in some cases, hail.
Similar phenomena had already been observed recently in other areas of Alentejo, such as Estremoz, during periods of atmospheric instability.
