Bad Thunderstorm Over Iraq

[Mobius]

This is an inflight video from a cargo aircraft or tanker over Iraq as they fly through a thunderstorm.  It's kind of creepy....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sA-Hk_j ... understorm

Just an quick shot from the video of one of those "Holy $#%*" moments taken just seconds apart...

[flyboy 28]

I didn't even know it rained in Iraq.

Tis freaky!

[EGNX]

That was one hell of a storm!

[Ivan]

I didn't even know it rained in Iraq

Rain of the 'all-or-nothing' kind. It's either damn hot and dry(35C+) or soaking wet (and still 20C at least)

That was one hell of a storm!

That are the clouds that come from the med and the gulf that are pushed up the mountains at the eastern border. Iran is an average 2000 meters higher, with 4000+ meter mountains on all land borders

[Nexus]

probably continental tropical air. The airmass is warm and dry which means few clouds and haze. But sometimes the airmass is unstable and thunderstorms are created in high terrain (just as Ivan decribed)

But then again it can be 1000 other reasons as to why aswell. Just my unqualified guess  :P