What is this weird round object on satellite over Louisiana?

By Jesse Ferrell, AccuWeather meteorologist

11/11/2017, 10:59:11 AM

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UPDATE 11/11/17: Here are the loops showing the cloud from Bloomsky weather cameras:

ORIGINAL BLOG 11/10/17:

Meteorologists and Twitter users were spooked when a long-lived, large, round object appeared on GOES-16 satellite over Louisiana today, November 10th, moving east but not changing shape:

But after some research, I found it was just a bizarre round cloud, after I spotted it on webcams. It looked like a high-atmosphere cirrus cloud that was producing virga (falling ice).

These kinds of sightings may become more frequent -- only because they weren't possible before the new, high spatial and temporal resolution (non-operational) GOES-16 satellite, launched in 2017. Here are some additional satellite scans of the cloud:

Here are a few photos from the ground that have surfaced:

Another picture of our famous cloud. It just may be the only one in the entire state of Louisiana at this time. Consider yourself lucky if you've seen it in real life today! https://t.co/CCxGwlHipm
— NWS New Orleans (@NWSNewOrleans) November 10, 2017

Someone else just sent a similar shot. Cirrus with sun in background. https://t.co/VDvIghoG0n
— Margaret Orr (@MargaretOrr) November 10, 2017

@MargaretOrr not a cloud in the entire sky except this! Beam me up Scotty!! pic.twitter.com/1YK3MwdX8h
— Jeanette Gallagher (@DrJeanetteND) November 10, 2017

The views expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of AccuWeather, Inc. or AccuWeather.com

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