Conspiracy theories erupt after unique cloud appears over eastern North Carolina

A peculiar cloud seen slithering over eastern North Carolina has ignited an equally peculiar debate on social media, including conspiracy theories about secret government experiments.

The cloud, photographed by Jonathan Pattishall of Winnabow, resembled a chubby worm in the sky, but the National Weather Service assures people it’s not mysterious or dangerous.

“A plane flew through some supercooled water droplets within cirrocumulus clouds. The plane introduced ice crystals, allowing for the supercooled droplets to freeze immediately. A hole is left behind,” the NWS office in Wilmington reported in a Jan. 9 social media post.

They’re called fallstreak holes or hole punch clouds, the post added.

Many readers weren’t convinced, however. As of Jan. 16, nearly 400 reactions and comments had been posted, with some accusing the National Weather Service of “normalizing these strange clouds.”

“The lies just doesn’t stop. Vast majority know what’s up,” one woman wrote on the NWS Facebook page.

“They get paid to brainwash us just like the pilots get paid to spray us,” another posted.

“People need to start collecting water samples, soil samples, and get them tested,” a man added.

The commenters later began arguing with each other, leading some to ask if the NWS was operating “a satire account.”

Fact is, fallstreak clouds are a well known phenomenon, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

“This can only be achieved in water droplets at high altitudes that have very few impurities or ‘seeds,’ such as dust or pollution particles, fungal spores, or bacteria that may trigger crystallization,” NOAA says. “Supercooled water is very unstable and will flash-freeze when disturbed.”

Winnabow is about a 145-mile drive southeast from Raleigh.

This story was originally published January 16, 2026 at 9:56 AM.