06/17/2026
I saw these clouds over Bandera after the last storm, had never seen this type of formation, so straight to AI for answer:
"These are Kelvin-Helmholtz wave clouds, also called fluctus clouds.
What you’re seeing
The smooth, evenly spaced, breaking‑wave pattern along the edge of that thin cloud layer is the classic signature of Kelvin‑Helmholtz clouds.
They form when a faster layer of wind flows over a slower layer below, creating shear that makes the cloud billow and curl over like ocean waves.
These clouds are considered uncommon to rare, because you need just the right combination of moisture, stability, and strong wind shear at that level in the atmosphere.
They usually don’t signal severe weather at the ground, but they are a visual clue that the air aloft is turbulent, which is important for aircraft."
Awesome to see something new!!
