Mysterious and unusually shaped clouds have been spotted in the skies over North Wales.
These oddly shaped clouds have been described as looking like flying saucers, pancakes, lentils, and have even been mistaken for UFOs before.
Known as lenticular clouds, they are uncommon in the UK as they can only form under the right weather conditions.
Photos have been shared last week showing some of the most striking views of Anglesey’s south-west coast.
This unique structure is often called pancake clouds because they appear flat and are sometimes stacked on top of each other.
Their official name is lenticular clouds, derived from the Latin word meaning “lens-shaped”.
People visiting Traeth Llanddwyn in Newborough are lucky enough to see this sight as they drift over the Pen Llŷn Mountains.
Hikers in Snowdonia and the Llŷn Peninsula were startled by the clouds, as their appearance only lasted about 10 minutes.
Dov Rosalinda, who often hikes in Snowdonia, said she had seen UFO clouds before.
She described the first time she saw the phenomenon as “special” because it doesn’t last long.
How do UFO clouds form?
UFOs or lenticular clouds form when stable, moist air moves across mountains and creates standing waves in the atmosphere.
As the air cools, it condenses into flat clouds, which often stack up like UFOs or pancakes.
Lenticular clouds usually indicate strong winds on the ground below.
The Met Office said: “When air blows over mountains, in some cases it can create a series of huge standing waves in the air downstream, much like the ripples that form in a river when water flows over a barrier.
“If there is enough moisture in the air, the upward motion of the waves causes water vapor to condense, creating the distinctive appearance of lenticular clouds.”
The Met Office says pilots avoid flying near lenticular clouds because they cause turbulence, but some experienced glider pilots like them because it’s a visual representation of where the air is rising.
