Sunday PM: Those in Hamilton and other parts of Waikato (and some other regions) have been treated to a rare display in the sky – striking ‘Mammatus’ cloud formations following heavy rain.

Coming from Latin “Mamma” means ‘udder’ or ‘breast’ and the stunning clouds appears around big cloud build ups and instability, like we get around thunderstorms or significant sub-tropical airflow rain events. Sometimes they occur with afternoon thunderstorms too.

In fact, quite often they are attached to Severe Thunderstorms. Sunday’s photos and videos were timed around sunset, so with a low sun it helped display shadows and the true shape/depth of the cloud formations.

In New Zealand Mammatus clouds do occur in any region, but not very often.

& some more.. sorry, I’m finding these cloud formations quite fascinating… pic.twitter.com/0Dkji5Qrg7

— zkav8or (@JonathanPowles) June 3, 2018

A couple other #Waikato pics capturing the incredible #Mammatus clouds this afternoon (via our Facebook page: https://t.co/DiesdqtLcB)
Thanks to David Woollett & Monique Probert: pic.twitter.com/YEMrDzowM2

— WeatherWatch.co.nz (@WeatherWatchNZ) June 3, 2018

– WeatherWatch.co.nz