Storm clouds portend coming rains over New Mexico’s Sandia Mountains

This giant storm loomed large, dwarfing even the towering peaks of the Sandia Mountains. In Albuquerque, supercell storms such as this are fairly common during the summer monsoon season. The moist warm air rises up from the gulfs that are south of New Mexico on both sides, and collides with the cold dry air descending from the plains to the north. Massive convective storms are the result. I was photographing this storm from a safe distance, watching as the inner details of the cloud showed their form in the changing sunset light. It made for a beautiful sunset, although a bit stormier than I’m used to.

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