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BLOG: What is a Fallstreak Hole?

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A Fallstreak Hole, or Hole Punch cloud, was spotted around sunset over the Tulsa area Monday evening. Many residents snapped pictures of the cloud phenomenon as it was illuminated by the beautiful setting sun. 

A Fallstreak Hole is fairly rare. It is usually caused by an airliner passing through a layer of altocumulus clouds. As the airplane flies through the cloud layer, the air expands and cools near the wings which "freezes" the cloud droplets around the aircraft into ice crystals. These ice crystals then start to fall leaving a hole in the cloud.  

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