A spectacular roll cloud was captured on camera by the Lakhta Center in St. Petersburg, offering a breathtaking view of this rare natural phenomenon. The footage, released on Friday, showcases the cloud formation from multiple perspectives against the backdrop of the city’s summer panorama.

While the exact date of the recording remains unspecified, a similar roll cloud was observed and filmed last Saturday by Fontanka, appearing prominently in the northern part of the city and the Vsevolozhsky district of the Leningrad Region.

These distinctive clouds, aptly named for their elongated, roll-like appearance, typically form along atmospheric fronts. The prevailing theory suggests that their formation is linked to the rotation of air masses, particularly those associated with sea breezes.

Despite their captivating appearance, roll clouds remain a subject of scientific inquiry. While some researchers propose that they might represent the spiral arms of cyclones, a universally accepted explanation for their formation has yet to be established.