A terrifying weather event hit the city of Caxias do Sul, Brazil, on Saturday, engulfing the city as seen in a now-viral timelapse video.
The video shared by AccuWeather shows a shelf cloud inhaling the southern Brazilian city, almost like a tsunami or dust storm, covering the region so thickly it blocked out almost everything from sight. The footage was captured Saturday morning, as winds coming off the Atlantic ocean mixed with an area of low pressure in Paraguay, causing the incredible event, according to a translation from local outlet G1.
Watch this ominous shelf cloud engulf the skies of a southern Brazilian city this past weekend! 😲 pic.twitter.com/10Z3lmWPQO
— AccuWeather (@accuweather) September 25, 2023
“They normally form when the temperature is high on the ground and encounters a layer of colder air. They are also favored by the strong winds that act in the first layers of the atmosphere,” meteorologist Alana Gabriele told the outlet. “It’s really scary, but it’s very beautiful.” (RELATED: Extreme Weather Caught On Dashcam Video Goes Viral)
Shelf clouds typically appear in the ramp-up to thunderstorms that carry strong wind gusts of anywhere from 50 to 70 km/h, G1 reported. These types of clouds are also affiliated with squall lines, which are often seen in conjunction with the formation of tornadoes, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Thankfully, these tornadoes are short-lived and rain-wrapped.
Back in 2021, a huge shelf cloud appeared over Georgia. It really was stunning to behold.