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When Westmorland UFOs Are Really Clouds

The Kendal UFO-cloud story is a useful reminder that Westmorland's dramatic terrain can create saucer-like weather effects.

On this page

  • The Benson Knott cloud report
  • How lenticular clouds form near hills
  • Practical checks before calling it a UFO
Preview for When Westmorland UFOs Are Really Clouds

Introduction

Westmorland’s most useful “UFO cloud” example is not a mystery craft but a weather lesson over Kendal. In June 2020, local reporting described around five saucer-like clouds looming over Benson Knott, a hill just north-east of Kendal, with residents understandably comparing them to UFOs. The explanation was lenticular cloud: smooth, curved cloud produced when moist air flows over hills and forms standing waves. [lancs.live]lancs.liveufo clouds spotted over kendal 18382341UFO" Clouds spotted over Kendal8 Jun 2020 — Residents in Kendal were stunned on Saturday as around five "UFO" like clouds loomed over Be…

Overview image for UFO Clouds That matters for Westmorland UFO history because the county’s landscape is exactly the sort of place where a dramatic sky can mislead a sincere witness. Historic Westmorland includes Kendal and the fells, dales and valleys around it, even though modern reports often use “Cumbria” or, since 2023, “Westmorland and Furness”. [cumbriacountyhistory.org.uk]cumbriacountyhistory.org.ukThe Historic County of WestmorlandJanuary 23, 2018 — Westmorland County Council was abolished relating to the county of Westmorland…Published: January 23, 2018 A cloud over Benson Knott is therefore a small but revealing Westmorland case: not evidence of unusual aircraft, but a reminder that local terrain can generate shapes that look structured, stationary and artificial.

What Are Lenticular Clouds? (They Look Like UFOs!)

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The Benson Knott cloud report

The clearest local anchor is the Kendal report published on 8 June 2020. It described residents seeing several “UFO”-like clouds over Benson Knott at about 7.30pm on the Saturday evening, with the clouds identified as lenticular clouds rather than flying objects. [lancs.live]lancs.liveufo clouds spotted over kendal 18382341UFO" Clouds spotted over Kendal8 Jun 2020 — Residents in Kendal were stunned on Saturday as around five "UFO" like clouds loomed over Be…

Benson Knott is a modest but prominent hill in the Kendal area. Hill-bagging and walking sources place it at about 319 metres, with a grid reference around SD548941; walking guides describe it as giving wide views over Kendal and the surrounding landscape. [hill-bagging.co.uk+2Walk Lakes]hill-bagging.co.ukhill viewhill view That is important because this was not a “thing” crossing the sky in isolation. It was a sky effect seen above a named hill, in a hilly district, under conditions where cloud shape and light can produce a convincing saucer-like outline.

The report is also useful because it shows how misidentification can happen without anyone behaving foolishly. Lenticular clouds often look deliberate: smooth-edged, curved, layered and sometimes apparently fixed in one place. A person looking up from Kendal towards Benson Knott might see a disc-like form apparently hovering above the skyline. In ordinary speech, “it looked like a UFO” is a natural description, even when the correct explanation is meteorological.

For Westmorland’s UFO record, the case sits in the “explained but instructive” category. It does not strengthen claims that unusual craft were operating over Kendal. It does strengthen the case for checking weather, wind direction, hill position and cloud type before treating a local sighting as unexplained.

UFO Clouds illustration 1

How lenticular clouds form near hills

Lenticular clouds form when air is pushed over a hill or mountain range and sets up a series of standing waves downwind, rather like ripples downstream of a rock in a river. Where the air rises, it cools; if there is enough moisture, water vapour condenses into cloud. Where the air sinks again, the cloud can evaporate. The result may be a smooth lens, almond or saucer shape that appears to sit in place even while air is moving through it. [Met Office]weather.metoffice.gov.ukMet OfficeUnusual cloud formationsIf there is enough moisture in the air, the rising motion of the wave will cause water vapour to conden…

This “standing” behaviour is one reason the clouds are so often mistaken for solid objects. The Royal Meteorological Society notes that lenticular, or wave, clouds differ from ordinary drifting cloud because they can appear to remain in one place while continually forming and reforming as air passes through them. Add low evening sun, shadow and a clean skyline, and the effect can become much more striking. [RMetS]rmets.orgRMet SWeather Photographer of the Year: Setting the sceneRMet SWeather Photographer of the Year: Setting the scene

Westmorland’s terrain makes the mechanism locally plausible. The historic county spans the Kendal area, the Westmorland Dales, valleys and high ground between the Lake District, Pennines and neighbouring counties. [Gazetteer of British Place Names]gazetteer.org.ukGazetteer of British Place NamesWestmorland, historiccountyExplore the geographical profile of Westmorland, historiccounty (GBPNID: 30576… A hill does not need to be Alpine to shape airflow; Benson Knott’s value here is that it gives a clear local skyline and a topographic barrier near an observing population. The Kendal sighting is therefore not a random cloud anecdote but a county-specific example of how landscape and weather combine.

Lenticular clouds can also appear stacked, like plates, when several moist layers sit at different heights. Aviation meteorology sources describe these clouds as signs of mountain-wave conditions, and pilots may treat nearby turbulence seriously even though the cloud itself is not an aircraft. [Weather.gov]weather.govOpen source on weather.gov. That detail helps explain why a witness might report a shape that seems too neat for “normal cloud” while still being entirely natural.

Spotted a UFO near the mountains? It was likely a lenticular cloud

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Why they become UFO reports

The UFO comparison is not just a newspaper flourish. The Met Office explicitly says lenticular clouds are believed to be one of the most common explanations for UFO sightings around the world. [Met Office]weather.metoffice.gov.ukMet OfficeUnusual cloud formationsIf there is enough moisture in the air, the rising motion of the wave will cause water vapour to conden… The reason is visual rather than exotic: they can have a lens-like profile, hard-looking edges, layered structure and apparent stillness.

In a Westmorland setting, three features make the confusion especially likely.

First, the skyline gives the cloud a stage. A cloud over Benson Knott or another fell can look as though it is hovering over a landmark. With no visible movement against the hill, a witness may read the cloud as a suspended object rather than a weather pattern.

Second, evening light can sharpen the illusion. The Kendal report placed the clouds at around 7.30pm, when low light can turn ordinary atmospheric structure into dramatic silhouettes or glowing forms. [lancs.live]lancs.liveufo clouds spotted over kendal 18382341UFO" Clouds spotted over Kendal8 Jun 2020 — Residents in Kendal were stunned on Saturday as around five "UFO" like clouds loomed over Be… Smooth clouds at sunset often look more solid than broken cloud in flat daylight.

Third, “UFO” is often a description before it is a claim. Many witnesses use UFO to mean “I could not identify it”, not “I saw an alien craft”. The problem begins when a quick comparison hardens into a stronger story after repetition online or in local media. A caption such as “UFO clouds over Kendal” can be accurate as a playful description, but misleading if later readers detach it from the lenticular-cloud explanation.

This is why explained cases still belong in a county UFO history. They show how reports are made, circulated and corrected. They also provide a local reference point for assessing weaker accounts: if a future Westmorland report describes a silent, smooth, hovering saucer-shaped form near hills, lenticular cloud should be one of the first checks, not a late afterthought.

UFO Clouds illustration 2

Practical checks before calling it a UFO

A Westmorland sighting does not become worthless because a cloud explanation is possible. But the Benson Knott example shows that a useful first pass should separate “unidentified at the moment” from “unusual after basic checks”. The following checks are especially relevant in Kendal, the Westmorland Dales and fell-edge areas.

Check whether it held position over a hill. Lenticular clouds often appear fixed relative to the ground because the cloud is forming in a standing wave. If the object seems parked over Benson Knott, the Helm, the Kent valley skyline or another ridge, that is a clue for wave cloud rather than powered flight. [RMetS]rmets.orgRMet SWeather Photographer of the Year: Setting the sceneRMet SWeather Photographer of the Year: Setting the scene

Look for smooth, lens-shaped or stacked edges. A single oval, a “pile of plates”, or a long almond shape is typical of lenticular cloud. A sharply metallic object with changing orientation, visible structure, lights, sound or independent movement would need different checks, but a smooth saucer outline above high ground is not unusual in meteorology. [Met Office]weather.metoffice.gov.ukMet OfficeUnusual cloud formationsIf there is enough moisture in the air, the rising motion of the wave will cause water vapour to conden…

Note wind and weather, not just appearance. Lenticular clouds are linked to stable, moist air flowing over topography. A sighting record that includes wind direction, cloud cover, time, location and photographs is far more useful than a dramatic description alone. Without those details, a report may remain interesting but weak.

Compare several viewpoints. A real object moving through airspace should change position against the landscape when viewed from different places. A standing cloud may look dramatic from Kendal but make more sense when seen from another road, ridge or village.

Be careful with modern county labels. A report described as “Cumbria” or “Westmorland and Furness” may or may not sit inside historic Westmorland. Kendal and Benson Knott fit the Westmorland-centred story, but neighbouring Cumbrian reports should not automatically be folded into the historic county’s UFO record. [cumbriacountyhistory.org.uk]cumbriacountyhistory.org.ukThe Historic County of WestmorlandJanuary 23, 2018 — Westmorland County Council was abolished relating to the county of Westmorland…Published: January 23, 2018

Why Do Lenticular Clouds Look Exactly Like UFOs in the Sky?

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What the cloud explanation changes

The Benson Knott cloud report weakens any attempt to treat every saucer-like Westmorland sky story as an anomalous craft report. It does not prove that every local sighting is a cloud. It does something more useful: it gives readers a tested local mechanism.

Official UK UFO records have long mixed unresolved reports with ordinary explanations, and The National Archives describes Ministry of Defence UFO files as records of reports, correspondence and policy rather than proof that unusual craft were present. [The National Archives]nationalarchives.gov.ukOpen source on nationalarchives.gov.uk. In that broader British context, Westmorland’s lenticular-cloud cases belong beside aircraft lights, astronomical objects and lanterns as part of the everyday sorting process.

For a public-facing Westmorland UFO history, the fairest conclusion is simple. The Kendal “UFO clouds” were not a landmark mystery, but they are a landmark caution. In a county defined by fells, valleys and changeable skies, the most convincing-looking saucer may sometimes be air, moisture and hill-shaped wave motion doing exactly what the atmosphere is known to do.

UFO Clouds illustration 3

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Endnotes

  1. Source: lancs.live
    Title: ufo clouds spotted over kendal 18382341
    Link: https://www.lancs.live/news/local-news/ufo-clouds-spotted-over-kendal-18382341
    Source snippet

    "UFO" Clouds spotted over Kendal8 Jun 2020 — Residents in Kendal were stunned on Saturday as around five "UFO" like clouds loomed over Be...

  2. Source: weather.metoffice.gov.uk
    Link: https://weather.metoffice.gov.uk/learn-about/weather/types-of-weather/clouds/unusual-cloud-formations
    Source snippet

    Met OfficeUnusual cloud formationsIf there is enough moisture in the air, the rising motion of the wave will cause water vapour to conden...

  3. Source: cumbriacountyhistory.org.uk
    Title: The Historic County of Westmorland
    Link: https://www.cumbriacountyhistory.org.uk/sites/default/files/westmorland_case_study.pdf
    Source snippet

    January 23, 2018 — Westmorland County Council was abolished relating to the county of Westmorland...

    Published: January 23, 2018

  4. Source: hill-bagging.co.uk
    Title: hill view
    Link: https://www.hill-bagging.co.uk/hill-view/?rf=5292

  5. Source: weather.gov
    Link: https://www.weather.gov/abq/features_acsl

  6. Source: rmets.org
    Title: RMet SWeather Photographer of the Year: Setting the scene
    Link: https://www.rmets.org/metmatters/weather-photographer-year-setting-scene-clouds

  7. Source: nationalarchives.gov.uk
    Link: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/explore-the-collection/explore-by-time-period/postwar/ufo-reports/

  8. Source: nationalarchives.gov.uk
    Link: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/ufos/

  9. Source: cdn.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    Link: https://cdn.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documents/the-ufo-files-extract.pdf

  10. Source: cdn.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    Link: https://cdn.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documents/briefing-guide-12-07-12.pdf

  11. Source: nationalarchives.gov.uk
    Title: defe 241948
    Link: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/state-secrets/mysteries/defe-241948/

  12. Source: cdn.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    Link: https://cdn.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documents/podcast-transcript.pdf

  13. Source: cdn.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    Link: https://cdn.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documents/final-tranche-of-UFO-files-released.pdf

  14. Source: assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
    Title: ufo report 2009
    Link: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7582c440f0b6397f35efcb/ufo_report_2009.pdf

  15. Source: archives.gov
    Link: https://www.archives.gov/research/topics/uaps

  16. Source: cumbria.gov.uk
    Link: https://www.cumbria.gov.uk/elibrary/content/internet/538/755/2789/406869467.pdf

  17. Source: GOV.UK
    Title: ufo reports in the uk
    Link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ufo-reports-in-the-uk

  18. Source: westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk
    Link: https://www.westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk/planning-and-building-control/conservation/find-conservation-area

  19. Source: gazetteer.org.uk
    Link: https://gazetteer.org.uk/place/Westmorland
    Source snippet

    Gazetteer of British Place NamesWestmorland, historiccountyExplore the geographical profile of Westmorland, historiccounty (GBPNID: 30576...

  20. Source: walklakes.co.uk
    Title: hill 5292
    Link: https://www.walklakes.co.uk/hill_5292.html

  21. Source: Wikipedia
    Title: Lenticular cloud
    Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lenticular_cloud

  22. Source: Wikipedia
    Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westmorland

  23. Source: explore.osmaps.com
    Title: benson knott
    Link: https://explore.osmaps.com/route/3362713/benson-knott

  24. Source: mudandroutes.com
    Title: Benson Knott
    Link: https://www.mudandroutes.com/summit/benson-knott/

  25. Source: summitsup.me.uk
    Title: benson knott
    Link: https://www.summitsup.me.uk/2015/05/benson-knott.html

  26. Source: themountainguide.co.uk
    Title: benson knott
    Link: https://www.themountainguide.co.uk/england/benson-knott.htm

Additional References

  1. Source: mountwashington.org
    Link: https://mountwashington.org/a-closer-look-at-lenticular-clouds/

  2. Source: mininginstitute.org.uk
    Link: https://mininginstitute.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/NEIMME%20Vol%2028.pdf

  3. Source: facebook.com
    Link: https://www.facebook.com/ByronKOAT/posts/did-you-see-the-ufo-cloud-this-lenticular-cloud-forms-as-the-mountains-create-wa/1223811962434357/

  4. Source: frcc.co.uk
    Link: https://www.frcc.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/simple-file-list/Journals/Journal-1921.pdf

  5. Source: facebook.com
    Link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/photosofcumbria/posts/2721754644733470/

  6. Source: darwin-online.org.uk
    Link: https://darwin-online.org.uk/converted/pdf/1853_Sedgwick_guide_to_the_lakes_DlibD_A5887.pdf

  7. Source: facebook.com
    Link: https://www.facebook.com/AstroKirsten/posts/have-you-seen-these-ufo-clouds-ufo-clouds-science-weird-meteorology-weather/944750934318832/

  8. Source: facebook.com
    Link: https://www.facebook.com/RealCounties/posts/did-westmorland-disappear-englands-lost-countywestmorland-is-one-of-englands-his/1241639794786252/

  9. Source: instagram.com
    Link: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVoXrv9iJan/

  10. Source: ramblers.org.uk
    Link: https://www.ramblers.org.uk/go-walking/group-walks/kendal-countryside-benson-knot

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