Instagram documents strange California cloud formation

Following a week of heavy rains and flooding, Golden State residents were greeted by a most unusual California cloud formation on Saturday.

Technically known as fallstreak or hole punch clouds, the formation occurs when a large gap appears in the middle of a cumulus cloud. When water temperatures inside of the cloud are below freezing, but the water has not yet frozen, ice crystals begin to form. This, in turn, prompts the surrounding water droplets to evaporate, leaving the large hole. Then, if an aircraft passes through, it will cause the air to freeze and expand, leaving a pattern that looks similar to a brushstroke.

Here are some of our favorite Instagram photos of the super-cool California cloud formation.

Did you see this strange cloud formation in the sky Saturday? Eyewitnesses from Torrance to Huntington Beach shared their view of an unusual phenomenon called a Fallstreak Hole. @abc7jonathan says these form when the water temperature in a cloud is below freezing, but the droplets haven’t actually frozen due to a lack of particulate matter to freeze around. When ice crystals eventually do form, that sets off a chain reaction whereby the rest of the water droplets quickly freeze, and fall from the cloud, leaving the large gap that you see in this pic from Eyewitness @ouana in Manhattan Beach. Share your weather pics with #abc7eyewitness!

A photo posted by ABC7 Southern California (@abc7la) on Jan 22, 2017 at 7:47am PST

so I’m pretty sure this is the coolest thing I’ve ever witnessed🙊 #rainbowsky

A photo posted by Melanie Haddow (@melaniehaddow) on Nov 3, 2014 at 12:12am PST

😍 #fallstreak #hole in the #sky #cloudscape #clouds #cloudformations #cloudporn #shadesofsky (image credit: 🌎✌)

A photo posted by deborah_riphertopunk (@deborah_riphertopunk) on Nov 11, 2016 at 10:27am PST

Epic cloud formation today!!! Some Armageddon shit right here in Newcastle. #cloudnerd #cloudporn #fallstreak

A photo posted by Kate Davidson (@yay_4_yoga) on Sep 11, 2016 at 1:47am PDT

It’s a fallstreak hole, a rare meteorological phenomenon . . . . #nature #fallstreakhole #fallstreak #sky #rare #trees #amazing #photography #landscape #mothernature

A photo posted by Ephraim Davies (@ephraimdavies) on Jan 24, 2017 at 2:27am PST

#holepunchcloud #fallstreak #alien #atmosphere #cloudporn #santamonica

A photo posted by Denise Taylor (@denisetaylor) on Jan 21, 2017 at 6:59pm PST

Himmel möter hav #nynäshamn #lövhagen #horisont #fallstreakhole

A photo posted by Helena Löfgren (@hellofgren) on Sep 25, 2016 at 4:10am PDT

🚀😩 ho hum…just another alien ship over P.V. 🤖👽👾

A photo posted by Linda (@linda__compian) on Jan 21, 2017 at 10:31pm PST

Igår hade Monica Kindbladh hål i sina moln. Imorgon kan det vara du som drabbas! 😜 Läs mer på svt.se Länk i bio. // @nimbusnils #fallstreakhole #clouds #moln #väder #svtväder

A photo posted by SVT Väder (@svtvader) on Sep 26, 2016 at 7:09am PDT