Setting Sunlit Cumulus Clouds followed by Lightning.

On Tuesday 18th February, the late afternoon sun briefly appeared through a gap between cumulostratus formations after which rays of light from the setting Sun illuminated growing post-sunset cumulus clouds both before and after it had descended below the horizon. Unusual lighting effects were produced including illumination of a nearby cumulus pileus cap to produce a spectacular red tinted rainbow pileus and later simultaneous projections of red sunlight onto the lower portions of nearby tall cumulus clouds and much brighter light onto their canopies. As darkness approached lightning began to appear in some of the more active cumulus clouds (as often happens here shortly after sunset) and four separate flashes were captured in a cloud situated a short distance behind the foothill of Murahwa Mountain.

Tripod-mounted Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40 in sunset mode

Compilation of montage of 8 cropped images captured between 6.09 and 6.48 pm.