Spectacular 'cloud tsunami' rolls over Florida high-rise condos

JR Hott / Panhandle Helicopter

Panama City Beach, Florida -- Fog rolls up along the shore of Panama
City Beach, Florida on Feb. 5th, 2012.

JR Hott / Panhandle Helicopter

Panama City Beach, Florida -- Fog rolls up along the shore of
Panama City Beach, Florida on Feb. 5th, 2012.

By Natalia Jimenez, msnbc.com

Helicopter pilot Mike Schaeffer was wrapping up a tour when he spotted this incredible weather phenomenon along the coast of Panama City Beach, Fl. on Sunday. As soon as he landed, he alerted Panhandle Helicopter owner JR Hott of the "cloud form waves," and together they went up for a better view. They moved quickly knowing that it is only in very specific weather conditions that this beautiful effect occurs. While the online community has dubbed this a "cloud tsunami," Hott disagrees with the popular moniker:

I wouldn't call it a "cloud tsunami." The term tsunami implies a natural disaster. The event, while it can form quickly, moves gently and slowly. It isn't something that happens with more than a gentle breeze.

While the images appear non-threatening and peaceful, as an experienced pilot, Hott has been trained to treat all fog and clouds as if they are solid objects. He and Schaeffer were very careful approaching in the air to get a better view. Fortunately, because of the location of the condos, they were able to approach the cloud waves from the side and did not place themselves in the direct path of the fog.

JR Hott / Panhandle Helicopter

Panama City Beach, Florida -- Fog rolls up along the shore of
Panama City Beach, Florida on Feb. 5th, 2012.

JR Hott / Panhandle Helicopter

Panama City Beach, Florida -- Fog rolls up along the shore of
Panama City Beach, Florida on Feb. 5th, 2012.

Meteorologist Dan Satterfield explains this occurrence on his blog:

Cool air offshore was very nearly at the saturation point, with a temperature near 20ºC and a dew point of about 19.5ºC. The air at this temperature can only hold a certain amount of water vapor, and how much it can hold depends heavily on the temperature. If you add more water into the air, a cloud will form, but you can also get a cloud to form by cooling the air. Drop the temperature, and it can no long hold as much water vapor, so some of it will condense out and a cloud will form.

Hott will see this happen a couple times a year, but Sunday's visibility was especially clear and he was able to make all these pictures in only five minutes! He is more amazed at the attention his pictures are getting, rather than with the event itself. "This is not so much a study in photography, but a study in how something can go viral," he said. Hott posted the photos to his company's Facebook page and suddenly he was getting requests for the pictures from all over the world. He is happy with the attention, hoping it inspires some to take a tour with him along the coastline.

JR Hott / Panhandle Helicopter

Panama City Beach, Florida -- Fog rolls up along the shore of
Panama City Beach, Florida on Feb. 5th, 2012.