Storm chasers capture giant "sky columns" in Texas»

During a thunderstorm that hit the US state of Texas on June 1, a team of storm hunters filmed a rare phenomenon of a four-fold microburst: four atmospheric formations resembling columns stretched down from a massive cloud, the Washington Post reports.

The "apocalyptic sky pillars" were spotted by enthusiasts en route to Lubbock, Texas, from New Mexico. The sunset rays gave the cloud a reddish hue. The storm brought heavy rain and hail.

According to the National Weather Service, a microburst is a powerful vertical squall, it is created by a stream of air that descends to the ground at a great speed. This phenomenon is especially dangerous for pilots.

The force of the wind inside the microburst can bring down large trees. Microbursts usually last from a few seconds to several minutes. It looks as if the cloud has broken through, and something is pouring through the hole to the ground.