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A rare meteorological event known as a " roll cloud " appeared over beaches in Portugal on Monday, catching beachgoers by surprise and gaining attention on social media. According to EuroNews, the cloud formation occurred as the country faced a severe heatwave. The unusual cloud was seen rolling in from the ocean along several parts of the Portuguese coast.Portugal has been experiencing extreme temperatures over recent days, with the heat triggering unstable weather across the mainland. On Sunday, various parts of the country witnessed unexpected weather events including sudden rain, hail, and thunderstorms. The roll cloud on Monday added to the list of rare occurrences.A roll cloud is a low, horizontal, tube-shaped arcus cloud that moves along a horizontal axis. It forms when cool air flows into warm, moist air, often ahead of a thunderstorm. Though it resembles a massive ocean wave, it is unrelated to tsunamis.The clip shared on social media shows the dense cloud emerging from the ocean and rapidly approaching the beach. As it moves inland, strong winds begin to blow, startling people on the beach.The video, posted by the user @volcaholic1 on June 30, 2025, has gathered over 20,000 views and continues to circulate widely online."Holy canoly! Is this the storm front that will give Europeans a respite from the heatwave in a few days?" one user asked."It's interesting, because they used to be very common here in Northern Portugal back when my parents were kids (60s-70s) and then they disappeared until yesterday," wrote another."Wow, it's like a wave!" another viewer commented. "So ominous looking!" added a different user.As temperatures are expected to rise further this week, the National Civil Protection Authority has issued alerts and safety recommendations. The agency has classified the risk of rural fires as 'Very High' to 'Maximum' in northern and central interior regions as well as the Algarve.Read Also | Man jumps overboard to save daughter after she falls from Disney cruise shipAccording to EuroNews, the Portuguese authorities are closely monitoring weather developments and have urged the public to follow preventive guidelines to ensure safety during the ongoing heatwave.
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Indian Express
3 days ago
- Indian Express
Watch: Rare roll cloud appears over Portugal beach, leaves the Internet in awe
In a breathtaking display of nature, a rare 'roll cloud,' a long, tube-shaped cloud formation, was spotted rolling over the coastline of Póvoa do Varzim, Portugal, on Monday. The unusual phenomenon unfolded as the country endured an intense heatwave, adding to a series of strange and unstable weather according to reports by EuroNews. The now-viral video captures the cloud sweeping in from the ocean, looking like a giant white cylinder slowly approaching the beach. As it nears the shore, strong gusts of wind whip through the area, startling beachgoers. The video was shared by @volcaholic1 on X with the caption, 'Incredible roll cloud in Póvoa do Varzim, Portugal yesterday… ' The video has garnered 31.2K views on the social media platform. Incredible roll cloud in Póvoa do Varzim, Portugal yesterday… 📹 António Pereira/fb — Volcaholic 🌋 (@volcaholic1) June 30, 2025 Another wrote, 'Holy canoly! Is this the storm front that will give Europeans a respite from the heatwave in a few days?' A third user said, 'They used to be very common here in Northern Portugal back when my parents were kids (60s–70s), and then they disappeared until yesterday.' One Instagram user said, 'I'd sit on the beach and imagine it was a gigantic wave!' According to EuroNews, the roll cloud appeared on multiple beaches along the Portuguese coast. Its appearance coincided with a weekend of extreme heat across mainland Portugal, where violent thunderstorms, hailstorms, and freak rain showers were reported in the country. The country's National Civil Protection Authority has issued heatwave alerts and fire warnings, with the risk level for wildfires ranging from 'Very High' to 'Maximum' in areas like the North, Centre, and Algarve. Authorities have urged residents to follow safety precautions as temperatures are expected to climb further this week. A roll cloud, also known as volutus, is a rare meteorological phenomenon classified under arcus clouds, a group of low, horizontal cloud formations often linked to thunderstorms. Roll clouds are distinct in their tube-like shape and the way they appear to rotate slowly along a horizontal axis, independent of the parent storm. These clouds form under specific atmospheric conditions, usually when cold downdrafts from a storm hit the ground and push outward, forcing warmer, moist air upward. As this air rises and cools rapidly, condensation occurs, creating the cloud. Roll clouds can also occur due to coastal breezes, where cooler air from the land pushes beneath warmer sea air, triggering similar cloud formation. Though dramatic in appearance, roll clouds rarely pose a danger, but they do offer a spectacular visual display of the atmosphere in motion.
NDTV
3 days ago
- NDTV
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Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Rare ‘roll cloud' stuns beachgoers in Portugal amid heatwave; video goes viral
Source: X O n Sunday, the beachgoers in Portugal experienced a spectacular and unusual weather event as a huge roll cloud rolled in from the Atlantic Ocean, leaving scores of bathers in awe. The unusual atmospheric structure, which had the appearance of a massive horizontal ocean wave, rolled menacingly across the sky and was preceded by powerful gusts of wind, making for a breathtaking spectacle. The massive roll cloud, which is usually seen near moving storm fronts, amazed both residents and tourists on the coast. Images and videos of the phenomenon soon circulated widely on social media, with numerous people referring to it as one of the strangest cloud formations they had ever viewed. Rare 'roll cloud' formation in the city of Portugal goes viral The stunning roll cloud was captured on video and shared on X (formerly Twitter) by the account Volcaholic, quickly going viral. The video shows the tube-like cloud front approaching the seaside town in northern Portugal Póvoa de Varzim. This enchanting video sparked a wave of online reactions with users expressing amazement of the rare sight. Many compared the cloud to a giant tsunami or a science fiction scene, while others praised nature's sheer power and unpredictability. Meteorologists noted that such clouds, though unusual, can form under specific coastal atmospheric conditions. "Incredible roll cloud in Póvoa de Varzim, Portugal yesterday..." Watch : What are roll clouds and how do they form Roll clouds are a rare atmospheric phenomenon and part of a larger category known as arcus clouds. The roll clouds are horizontal, cylindrical in shape and appear to 'roll' along the sky like a tube unlike the typical storm clouds. The roll clouds usually form under very specific conditions as explained by meteorologists: Warm, dry air ascends quickly because of strong surface heating (such as in a heatwave). This rising air collides with cooler, more humid sea breezes coming from the ocean. The difference between air masses produces turbulence and condensation and thus results in the roll-shaped cloud. Roll clouds are completely unrelated to seismic activity or tidal waves though they look dramatic and sometimes resemble giant tsunami waves, The roll cloud phenomenon occurred at the same time as a vicious heatwave that was affecting mainland Portugal and most of Western Europe. Record-breaking temperatures have raged, growing weather instability along the coastline. Euro News reports that extreme heat is believed to have influenced the creation of the roll cloud, as hot air inside collided with cool Atlantic air. Are roll clouds dangerous? The roll clouds are visually intense and capable of generating strong winds; they themselves are not inherently dangerous. However, they can be accompanied by sudden gusts, minor turbulence, or shifting weather conditions. Experts assure that despite their unusual appearance, roll clouds do not indicate any natural disaster or tsunami risk. Also Read | Indian billionaire Harsh Goenka reveals his powerful anger management mantra everyone should follow: 'Never…'
