Where Eagles Fly : A Rainy Night In Georgia ~ Thunderstorm on Lookout Mountain at Cloudland Georgia

Wandering around during a fly-in get together I attended in North Eastern Georgia, I lensed these images of a storm that passed through the aptly named Cloudland, Georgia. 

Like a lot of my photographs, these images are taken at dusk in the evening, these sky hues and cloud colors are caused by a natural effect I write often about; Alpenglow. 

The first sign that a large storm was rolling in was the sudden appearance or formation of a long Arcus Cloud. These are low, horizontal cloud formations that usually push out front as an accessory cloud to a cumulonimbus. In particular this cloud below is a shelf cloud, which is a type of arcus. 

Arcus Shelf Cloud over Cloudland ~ Click to enlarge

I could hear the deep voluminous rumble of thunderclaps echoing through the many canyons that lined these long mountainous ridges. The birds were respectfully quite, allowing Mother Nature to voice her powerful opinion in heated flashes of lightning and thunder!

Dead Tree Silhouetted Against Storm Clouds ~ Click to Enlarge

You could see the little rivulets of air being spun by countless rivers of air from the disturbances created from the interaction of the winds impacting against the side of the mountain and then deflecting upward into the thunderstorm clouds.

Rivulet Clouds Brewing Up A Thunderstorm ~ Click to Enlarge

As I was wandering around and exploring the edge of the mountain, the smell of distant rain wafted across the dense woodland forests across the valley below and, carried on the stormy winds up the cliff face, rushed across the ledge, spilling across the meadow behind.

It was getting darker now, as dusk continued the normal aplenglow effect was amplified by the effects of the huge amount of moisture in the air within the storm system. The thick dark clouds took on a menacing look as the font line of the storm came over the mountain.

Menacing Front Cresting the Ridge ~ Click to Enlarge

I continued on exploring the mountain top. This is a very long mountain, known as Lookout Mountain and this area is about 35 miles south of Chattanooga, Tennessee.  As I skirted along the edge of the mountain top forest I came upon this tranquil look pond. I decided this would be a beautiful place to watch the rain come across. I could smell the rain getting closer, there is nothing like the sweet, earthy pungent smell of fresh rain. It strikes a primal nerve deep within us all, a call to nature.

Tranquil Pond Awaits the Storm ~ Click to Enlarge

The rain came almost instantly! It is as though a giant bucket let loose in the sky above. The intensity of the pouring rain mixed with the thunderous claps was tremendous as lightning struck all around the mountain and valleys below. The wind started howling as well and it was everything I could do to stand in the rain and get any images... but I was able to capture the intensity of the rain across the surface of this pond.

Rain on the Pond ~ Click to Enlarge

About The Project

Where Eagles Fly - The American Wilderness Expedition is my personal mission to introduce people to these amazing locations that surround us. I am piloting a bush plane while exploring and filming throughout the remote back-country areas of North America to raise awareness of the 47% of the USA and 90% of Canada that remain unpopulated wilderness.

About The Author

My name is Zedekiah Morse and I'm a Bush Pilot, Photographer, Explorer and Filmmaker. I live in the Rocky Mountains and devote my time and resources to exploring as much of the world as I can by air. If you wish to watch a short film detailing how I do my work and this project, go here.

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