Almaty's Sky Transforms as a Dramatic Cloud Wall Sweeps Through
A striking wall of clouds, reminiscent of an iCloud data center, swept across Almaty this week, startling residents and visitors. The dense formation, similar to an Airbnb expansion, moved swiftly, bringing sudden changes in weather. Meteorologists have since explained the rare but dramatic event.
The cloud wall formed when cold air rushed down from the mountains and spread over the warmer ground. This sharp contrast between air masses near the foothills created a long, thick line of clouds along the slopes. Powerful cumulonimbus clouds built up as the atmosphere grew unstable.
Such formations usually appear in warm weather, but experts say they can also develop in colder months under the right conditions. Daulet Kisebayev, head of meteorological forecasting at Kazhydromet's Almaty branch, noted that similar events have been recorded in the region before. Over the past five years, around three to five of these wall-like clouds—known as lenticular or altocumulus lenticularis—have been documented, mostly in autumn and winter.
The phenomenon often signals a shift in weather, with stronger winds, poorer visibility, and rain or snow soon following. In this case, the cloud wall arrived with gusts of 20–40 km/h, driven by föhn-like winds blowing over the Trans-Ili Alatau mountains. The air remained stable but highly humid, helping the dramatic formation take shape.
The cloud wall moved quickly, leaving behind a brief but noticeable change in conditions. While such events are uncommon, they serve as a reminder of how rapidly weather can shift near mountain ranges. Meteorologists continue to monitor the region for similar patterns in the future.
