What UFOs turn out to be
Weather phenomena mistaken for UFOs
Lenticular clouds, which form downwind of mountains, are almost perfectly saucer-shaped and can stay put for hours. Distant storms light up the inside of clouds without any audible thunder.
Rarer upper-atmosphere lightning (sprites, jets) and ball lightning remain poorly understood; they are listed here only when the official source gives them as the explanation.
SkyUnknown lists 31 UFO sightings explained as a weather phenomenon (storm, lightning, cloud…), from 1960 to 2024, drawn from official records: GEIPAN (CNES).
- cases
- 31
- unidentified
- 0
- period
- 1960–2024
- source
- 1
Notable cases
The most complete records: account of the sighting, conclusion of the official investigation.
- Probably explainedJuly 24, 2024
Le Cannet
Alpes-Maritimes, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France
→ Weather and storms
GEIPAN (CNES)
- ExplainedDecember 9, 2023
Lachaux
Puy-de-Dôme, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France
→ Weather and storms
GEIPAN (CNES)
- ExplainedOctober 9, 2023
Nogent-sur-Marne
Val-de-Marne, Île-de-France, France
→ Weather and storms
GEIPAN (CNES)
- Probably explainedFebruary 19, 2022
Saint-Junien
Haute-Vienne, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France
→ Weather and storms
GEIPAN (CNES)
- ExplainedNovember 6, 2020
Richecourt
Meuse, Grand Est, France
→ Weather and storms
GEIPAN (CNES)
- ExplainedMay 4, 2020
Saint-Savin
Gironde, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France
→ Weather and storms
GEIPAN (CNES)
- ExplainedJune 18, 2019
Le Pian-Médoc
Gironde, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France
→ Weather and storms
GEIPAN (CNES)
- ExplainedFebruary 24, 2017
Fismes
Marne, Grand Est, France
→ Weather and storms
GEIPAN (CNES)
- Probably explainedDecember 11, 2016
Saint-Denis
La Réunion, France
→ Weather and storms
GEIPAN (CNES)
Other explanations
All sightings
| Date | Place | Status | Identified cause |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 24, 2024 | Le Cannet · Alpes-Maritimes | Probably explained | Weather and storms |
| December 9, 2023 | Lachaux · Puy-de-Dôme | Explained | Weather and storms |
| October 9, 2023 | Nogent-sur-Marne · Val-de-Marne | Explained | Weather and storms |
| February 19, 2022 | Saint-Junien · Haute-Vienne | Probably explained | Weather and storms |
| November 6, 2020 | Richecourt · Meuse | Explained | Weather and storms |
| May 4, 2020 | Saint-Savin · Gironde | Explained | Weather and storms |
| June 18, 2019 | Le Pian-Médoc · Gironde | Explained | Weather and storms |
| December 7, 2018 | Vannes · Morbihan | Explained | Weather and storms |
| February 24, 2017 | Fismes · Marne | Explained | Weather and storms |
| December 11, 2016 | Saint-Denis · La Réunion | Probably explained | Weather and storms |
| March 28, 2016 | Blain (44) 28.03.2016 T1 | Probably explained | Weather and storms |
| June 6, 2015 | Lyon · Rhône | Probably explained | Weather and storms |
| February 25, 2015 | Gap · Hautes-Alpes | Probably explained | Weather and storms |
| August 8, 2014 | Narbonne · Aude | Probably explained | Weather and storms |
| August 2, 2013 | La Croisille-sur-Briance · Haute-Vienne | Explained | Weather and storms |
| July 23, 2009 | Croignon · Gironde | Explained | Weather and storms |
| April 28, 2008 | Bailly · Yvelines | Explained | Weather and storms |
| December 9, 2007 | Biarritz · Pyrénées-Atlantiques | Explained | Weather and storms |
| October 22, 1997 | Bissezeele · Nord | Probably explained | Weather and storms |
| December 29, 1994 | Plérin · Côtes-d'Armor | Probably explained | Weather and storms |
| October 5, 1993 | Bessines-sur-Gartempe · Haute-Vienne | Probably explained | Weather and storms |
| March 13, 1989 | Aurore Boreale — Saint-Pierre-Quiberon · Morbihan | Explained | Weather and storms |
| December 1, 1988 | Saint-Michel-de-Villadeix · Dordogne | Probably explained | Weather and storms |
| May 25, 1985 | Saint-Malo-des-Trois-Fontaines · Morbihan | Probably explained | Weather and storms |
| May 5, 1983 | Labatut · Landes | Probably explained | Weather and storms |
| June 12, 1981 | Barbezieux · Charente | Probably explained | Weather and storms |
| November 21, 1978 | La Mure · Isère | Probably explained | Weather and storms |
| September 12, 1976 | Saint-Vérand · Isère | Probably explained | Weather and storms |
| April 24, 1976 | Eymet · Dordogne | Probably explained | Weather and storms |
| August 1960 | Morlincourt · Oise | Probably explained | Weather and storms |
| 1960 | Wissous · Essonne | Probably explained | Weather and storms |
The figures on this page are computed from the official records cited on each case. See sources and method