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Monster Shelf Cloud Captured on Video in Walmart Parking Lot, Like Something from a Scary Movie

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What is a shelf cloud, you ask?

Shoppers at an Illinois Walmart got a pretty up close and personal view of one on Aug. 7, and will probably remember its monstrosity forever.

“The sky was insane looking earlier,” wrote Illinois resident Maranda Benefield online.

She stood at a parking lot in Anna, Illinois, unable to look away from the ominous cloud looming over the town.

“The temperature dropped rapidly and the wind picked up and within minutes it blew right over us,” Benefield said.

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“It” was a massive shelf cloud, resembling a sort of slow-motion tidal wave.

The dark grey-blue cloud color contrasted starkly with a white puff of cloud spray, giving the appearance that the town would soon disappear into the clutches of the cloud.

Millions of people have been impressed by the unusual sight, which peaked the interest of meteorologist Grant Gilmore.

“This has to be one of the craziest shelf clouds I have ever seen,” Gilmore said.

While the cloud certainly looked like impending doom, Gilmore said it wasn’t necessarily an indicator of a massive storm.

“That said, just because it looks ominous doesn’t necessarily mean the weather associated with it was severe,” Gilmore explained.

“In fact, the fractured nature of the leading clouds suggests the storm may have been weakening.”

Part of the reason the shelf cloud looked so fierce, Gilmore explained, was because of varying amounts of sunlight.

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“The clouds in the background were much darker due to less sunlight and/or heavy rain which made the leading clouds, which look like a dissipating shelf cloud, appear to have a have a lot of texture,” Gilmore said.

Illinois isn’t the only U.S. location to see some stunning shelf clouds this summer. A beautiful, less-menacing shelf cloud passed over Central Park in New York City, also on Aug. 7.

Social media users have enjoyed commenting on ways they would respond should a shelf cloud threaten their hometown.

“Run for the hills is all I can think of,” one Facebook user joked.

For others, the ominous cloud was a reminder of just how breathtaking and awesome nature can be.

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A graduate of Grand Canyon University, Kim Davis has been writing for The Western Journal since 2015, focusing on lifestyle stories.
Kim Davis began writing for The Western Journal in 2015. Her primary topics cover family, faith, and women. She has experience as a copy editor for the online publication Thoughtful Women. Kim worked as an arts administrator for The Phoenix Symphony, writing music education curriculum and leading community engagement programs throughout the region. She holds a degree in music education from Grand Canyon University with a minor in eating tacos.
Birthplace
Page, Arizona
Education
Bachelor of Science in Music Education
Location
Phoenix, Arizona
Languages Spoken
English
Topics of Expertise
Lifestyle & Human Interest




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