Brits baffled as freaky ball-shaped clouds appear over city – but Met Office explains what’s really happening

BRITS have been left baffled as freaky ball-shaped clouds appeared in the sky. The unusual mammatus clouds formed across Glasgow as winds picked up due to Storm Dudley. One Brit wrote on Twitter: “Gonna need Met Office or BBC Weather to explain these crazy clouds.” Another added: “OK. Who messed with the clouds?” Mammatus clouds […]

BRITS have been left baffled as freaky ball-shaped clouds appeared in the sky.

The unusual mammatus clouds formed across Glasgow as winds picked up due to Storm Dudley.

Alamy

Freaky ball-shaped clouds have baffled Brits[/caption]

Alamy

But the mammatus clouds can mean bad weather could be on the way[/caption]

One Brit wrote on Twitter: “Gonna need Met Office or BBC Weather to explain these crazy clouds.”

Another added: “OK. Who messed with the clouds?”

Mammatus clouds often form in combination with larger clouds but can mean bad weather is on its way, the Met Office explains.

Hail, lightning and heavy rain are all associated with them and, if it is cold enough, they can produce snow.

Mammatus clouds are some of the most unusual and distinctive cloud formations, identified by the bulges or pouches from the base of a cloud.

While a protruding shape is most classic, other formations include an elongated tube hanging from the cloud above.

They usually form as a result of turbulence within a cumulonimbus cloud. It means there is a huge mass of unstable air which leads to bad weather conditions.

It comes as amber danger-to-life warnings were issued across Britain as storms Eunice and Dudley blast in with 11ins of snow and 100mph winds.

Meteorologists have warned of flying debris and huge waves, while drivers are urged to consider staying at home.

They say the forecast is “worrying” – with all signs pointing to the storm on Friday being a “very damaging and disruptive event” for southern and central parts in particular.

Significant snowfall is expected from the Midlands northwards, as well as in northern parts of Wales.

There’ll also be blizzards in Scotland.

The Met Office has now issued an amber warning for wind covering England between Blackpool in Lancashire and the south coast. It’s in place between 3am and 9pm on Friday.

Forecasters say Eunice will wreak havoc after Storm Dudley brings 90mph gusts across northern England, north Wales, Northern Ireland and the Scottish Border today and tomorrow.