Incredible skies over Bay of Plenty Thursday evening as the cold southerly finally settles.

Put simply, these incredible clouds form when air flows over the ranges, a bit like how the sea is altered on the surface by rocks or shallow water below.

The fading southerly conditions on Thursday evening, along with the cooling night, helped produce these dramatic clouds, more often seen over parts of Canterbury and Otago (thanks to the Southern Alps and nor’west winds).

Great sky action this evening over #katikati #Aongatete #Kaimais @WeatherWatchNZ @hottriggered @jacqui_aotearoa pic.twitter.com/AH9XyDNElu

— Ben Surfie (@bensurfie) July 2, 2020

Thanks! I wondered what type the cloud was. pic.twitter.com/uCpaoNm4jZ

— jacqui_aotearoa (@jacqui_aotearoa) July 2, 2020

Ok @WeatherWatchNZ what's this cloud called? In the western bay of plenty on sunset. pic.twitter.com/SRxE030REo

— Karmit 🦄 (@karenmi20186441) July 2, 2020

Sunset and the clouds are rather lovely in Tauranga tonight @WeatherWatchNZ pic.twitter.com/huU6UoPveT

— annikakes🇳🇿 (@annikakes) July 2, 2020

Giant cloud #blimp in the sky tonight. #Aongatete #Kaimais @WeatherWatchNZ #clouds #sunset pic.twitter.com/uCpaoNm4jZ

— jacqui_aotearoa (@jacqui_aotearoa) July 2, 2020

Candy floss clouds in #Aongatete right now. ⁦@WeatherWatchNZ⁩ pic.twitter.com/PwToTjLc5i

— Marcus Hobson (@Marcus_H_Author) July 2, 2020

• WeatherWatch.co.nz