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In pictures: 'Flying saucer clouds' and red skies

13 January 2022

Lenticular clouds photographed from Rogart in the Highlands

Cogies Auroras/BBC Weather Watchers Lenticular clouds — Lenticular clouds photographed from Rogart in the Highlands

Striking red skies at sunset and UFO flying saucer-like lenticular clouds were visible from parts of Scotland on Wednesday.

Lenticular clouds form when the air is stable and winds blow across hills and mountains from a similar direction at different heights through the troposphere, according to the Met Office.

Sundown at Methlick in Aberdeenshire

Ticketyboo_sus/BBC Weather Watchers Red sky at Methlick — Sundown at Methlick in Aberdeenshire

Wednesday evening's sky pictured from Inverness

Tattie-Bogle/Inverness Clouds from Inverness — Wednesday evening's sky pictured from Inverness

Lenticular clouds get their flying saucer nickname from their curved shape and layers

Umbraticus/BBC Weather Watchers Lenticular clouds — Lenticular clouds get their flying saucer nickname from their curved shape and layers

A fiery glow to the sky over Peebles in the Scottish Borders

Alan/BBC Weather Watchers Sky from Peebles — A fiery glow to the sky over Peebles in the Scottish Borders

Nairn on the Moray Firth coast offered some good views of the cloud formations

Lisa@Lethen/BBC Weather Watchers Lenticular clouds — Nairn on the Moray Firth coast offered some good views of the cloud formations

Another image of Wednesday's sky taken from Nairn

Rescue John/BBC Weather Watchers Lenticular clouds — Another image of Wednesday's sky taken from Nairn

Cullen, also on the Moray Firth coast, also enjoyed a spectacular evening weather-wise

Davis Vantage View/BBC Weather Watchers Sky over Cullen — Cullen, also on the Moray Firth coast, also enjoyed a spectacular evening weather-wise

The sunset pictured from Grantown on Spey in the Cairngorms National Park

Craig Swan Sunset from Grantown on Spey — The sunset pictured from Grantown on Spey in the Cairngorms National Park

Sundown in Dumfries

Solway View/BBC Weather Watchers Sundown in Dumfries — Sundown in Dumfries

Grantown on Spey