A Minnesota woman experienced an extraordinary sight while driving home, which has left an impression due to the unsettling feeling it evokes in those who view the viral photograph.
Theresa Birgin Lucas, from Bemidji, was on her way home after visiting her family in a Rochester hospital when she encountered a peculiar stormy sight.
As she traveled along Highway 64, the clouds ahead formed into what many have described as resembling “a seascape of crashing ocean waves.” However, Theresa herself did not notice this at first.
In a Facebook post, Theresa explained she took the picture to inform her daughter of her location after her daughter expressed concern.
She mentioned: “She was freaking out and wanted to know how much longer it was before I got home, so I seriously snapped that photo and said ‘I’m close to Akeley’.”
It wasn’t until she arrived home that Theresa looked at the photo and her daughter remarked that it ‘looked pretty cool’.
Speaking to KVRR about the strange cloud formations, Theresa said: “It seriously looks like the sky is going to unzip.”
After sharing the image on social media, it quickly went viral.
The photograph drew attention from people worldwide who were intrigued by the unusual scene.
Theresa humorously added: “I should be giving credit to my fraidy cat daughter.”
When some questioned whether the photo was manipulated or AI-generated, Theresa confirmed to PetaPixel that it was taken using an iPhone 8.
She stated: “It truly was just a quick picture taken off my iPhone 8, which cracks me up.
“It is a Live Photo — it’s funny to watch it, music playing and bug splats on my windshield!
“I really like the beauty in the photo knowing that nothing has been touched.”
The picture has resurfaced, continuing to captivate people with its ‘seascape in the sky’ effect.
Reddit users commented that they found it hard to look away, thinking ‘the waves are gonna crash on the road’.
Another user said: “It actually makes me feel uneasy. I can’t unsee a giant deadly wave.
“I don’t like looking at it.”
As for the phenomenon itself, KVRR meteorologist Mariah Bush noted that Theresa’s photo captures something ‘very rare’.
She commented: “My initial thought was maybe some basic clouds, cumulus nimbus clouds, or even a shelf cloud, but then after further looking there are some clouds I have never even seen before myself.
“So, pretty unique, actually.”
Speaking to FOX 35 News, Theresa shared: “I was just lucky to be in the right time at the right place. Not sure why but I was!”
She entered the photograph, titled Ocean in the Sky, into the Minnesota State Fair competition in 2022.