Featured Image Credit: Theresa Birgin Lucas
Topics: Minnesota, Nature, Photography, Reddit, Science, Viral, Weather, Social Media
Liv Bridge
Topics: Minnesota, Nature, Photography, Reddit, Science, Viral, Weather, Social Media
A Minnesota woman was driving home when she stumbled across an unusual stormy scene in a viral photograph some are talking about years later for making them feel 'uneasy'.
Theresa Birgin Lucas, of Bemidji, was heading home after visiting her family at a hospital in Rochester, Minnesota, when she stumbled across a rare stormy sight.
She was traveling on Highway 64 when clouds rolled over ahead into what some have described as a 'seascape of crashing ocean waves' - though the mom didn't even notice at the time.
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In her post on Facebook, Theresa explained she snapped the picture to give her daughter a heads-up of her whereabouts as she had become worried.
Theresa wrote: "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'."
She claims she didn't even look at the image until she was home and her daughter pointed out it 'looked pretty cool'.
Commenting on the bizarre cloud formation, Theresa told the news outlet KVRR: "It seriously looks like the sky is going to unzip."
She promptly posted the shot to social media where it immediately took off and went viral.
The photograph captured viewers from all over the globe with people far and wide asking her about the stunning scene.
Theresa joked: "I should be giving credit to my fraidy cat daughter."
When some queried if the image was photoshopped or AI-generated, Theresa confirmed to PetaPixel that it was taken on an iPhone 8.
She explained: "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 viral snap is now making the rounds again as the 'seascape in the sky' continues to hit a nerve.
Users on Reddit said they have been staring at the photograph, unable to tear away and thinking 'the waves are gonna crash on the road'.
Another wrote: "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, explained Theresa's image is 'very rare' indeed.
The expert said: "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.”
Theresa told FOX 35 News: "I was just lucky to be in the right time at the right place. Not sure why but I was!"
Having named the photo, Ocean in the Sky, Theresa entered the snap in the Minnesota State Fair competition in 2022.