Footage captures astonishing view of levanter cloud over Rock of Gibraltar

New footage has shown an astonishing view of an iconic levanter cloud rolling over the Rock of Gibraltar.

A timelapse video posted by the Met Office in Gibraltar captured the incredible sight as a plane was seen taking off from the runway at RAF Gibraltar.

The Levanter, an easterly wind in the Western Mediterranean, gets its name from the Spanish word 'levantar' meaning to rise, as in the sun rising in the east.

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When moist air is blown up and over the Rock of Gibraltar, the air cools and condenses to form the cloud that is seen.

It may look quite a sight but many Gibraltarians do not like it – in the summer, the Levanter often shrouds the west side with gloom and unpleasant humidity.

It was initially blamed for the outbreaks of the yellow fever disease in the 1800s until it was later discovered it was in fact caused by the mosquito.

The Levanter is still thought by some to be a contributing factor in aggravating ailments such as asthma and arthritis.