Truck Drivers Make A Quick Exit After Taking One Look At The Sky. Are They Shelf Or Wall Clouds?: ‘As A Floridian I Know Shelf Clouds Ain’t No Joke’

Tornadoes are quite frequent in some parts of the United States.

They most often happen in Florida and in what’s known as “Tornado Alley” in the south-central United States, according to the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI). As a result of this, most residents of these areas are very familiar with the telltale signs that a storm is coming and when they need to flee.

That’s exactly what one person caught on camera last year in footage that was later reshared by the WeatherTok TikTok account @weather.central.

In the clip, which has garnered over 17.5 million views, a massive cloud formation can be seen behind a line of trees, appearing unusually low and close to the road. It also seems to be moving in quickly.

Several cars can be seen making sharp U-turns one after the other, quickly driving away from the cloud formation.

Commenters Have Theories About What It Could Be

In the comments, viewers had some ideas about what they were looking at.

“Those drivers have seen ‘The Mist,’” one person joked, referencing the 2007 horror film about a paranormal weather disaster.

“Valid. As a Floridian I know shelf clouds ain’t no joke,” another said.

“Texas here, that’s not a shelf, it’s a wall cloud and it’s time to move,” a third added.

“That is the most organized and cautious hell naw I’ve ever seen,” a foruth wrote.

Is It A Shelf Cloud Or A Wall Cloud?

According to the National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL), a wall cloud is “an isolated cloud lowering attached to the rain-free base of the thunderstorm.”

The lab notes that the appearance of a wall cloud can signal that a tornado may form within 10 to 20 minutes, although that’s not always the case. When rotation develops, strong winds can feed into the cloud before it rises back into the storm base. Either way, it’s generally a sign to move away quickly.

A shelf cloud, on the other hand, appears more horizontal and can stretch across much of the horizon. According to the National Weather Service, the cloud starts forming a solid line of storms moving through an area.

Experts also say that a shelf cloud doesn’t usually point to a tornado. More often it signifies winds moving at around 50-75 mph that last 5-10 minutes, followed by heavy rain. Once the rain starts, it typically means there’s no real threat for a storm or strong winds.

Based on the footage, the cloud appears to have been a shelf cloud due to its horizontal shape and movement.

What Should You Do If You See One?

According to a YouTube video from a local media outlet in Northern Indiana, if you spot what looks like a developing storm and can’t find official reports, it’s a good idea to report it. Civilians can do this by contacting local authorities, who can direct the information to the National Weather Service.

When reporting, the publication recommends including details like how the cloud is moving, your exact location, and the direction you’re facing when you see it.

BroBible has reached out to @weather.central via TikTok messages for comment.