Area residents were treated to a beautiful sky show these past couple of days, around the majesty of Mount Rainier.

Thanks to lots of moist air moving over the mountains, a series of what are called “lenticular” clouds formed, creating a dramatic skyscape looking more painted than real.

Kent resident Ernest Wead was at the dog park on Kent’s West Hill Tuesday and found a chair where he relaxed – then saw the mind-boggling view. “I sat down and saw these clouds forming like halos around Mt. Rainer,” he wrote to us in an e-mail. “I watched them move and the lighting change for over six hours and photographed the changes. I took over 400 photographs today. Awesome event.”

Ernest was generous to share this image with us.

And, if you’re curious about these unusual clouds, here is a brief overview of how they form (thanks to Wikipedia):

Where stable moist air flows over a mountain or a range of mountains, a series of large-scale standing waves may form on the downwind side. If the temperature at the crest of the wave drops to the dew point, moisture in the air may condense to form lenticular clouds. As the moist air moves back down into the trough of the wave, the cloud may evaporate back into vapor. Under certain conditions, long strings of lenticular clouds can form near the crest of each successive wave, creating a formation known as a ‘wave cloud.’ The wave systems cause large vertical air movements and so enough water vapor may condense to produce precipitation. The clouds have been mistaken for UFOs (or “visual cover” for UFOs) because these clouds have a characteristic lens appearance and smooth saucer-like shape. Bright colors (called Irisation) are sometimes seen along the edge of lenticular clouds.