This is basically an inkblot test for severe weather watchers

As thunderstorm season begins to ramp up, severe weather watchers are once again making a check of the Storm Prediction Center part of the daily routine. Over time, many of us have thought maybe forecasters there have a fondness for drawing funny shapes with their polygons.

Sure it’s probably mainly just our imaginations, plus the natural oddities of weather system features. But sometimes you wonder. Perhaps the best known was the Sharknado outlook of 2014. There were plenty of hidden images before that one, and there have surely been many since.

It’s something of an inkblot or rorschach test for weather fans. Here are a few of our favorite ones we’ve seen go by in recent years…

With thunderstorms, sometimes it’s tough to tell what’s going to happen

Exactly how I feel about today's forecasts. Well played SPC. #lifeofameteorologist pic.twitter.com/sUcVCkyppB

— Megan Mulford (@yourmetmegan) April 24, 2016

Animals — or sea monsters in the case below — are a favorite of SPC outlook drawers

Today's SPC Outlook: "The storms… They do move in heards" pic.twitter.com/MQga7fXR78

— Cory Smith (@wxcory) February 20, 2017

Sometimes it’s fish, or fish-shaped food

Fun with @NWSSPC outlooks pic.twitter.com/rKkdV5zCCP

— Kyle Roberts (@KyleWeather) June 14, 2017

Sometimes it’s a cute googley-eyed duck

Bird's the word! pic.twitter.com/Lln6JmdcnR

— Jason Sydejko KCCI (@JSydejkoKCCI) June 15, 2017

Bow to the king

pic.twitter.com/0s3mHnBDCj

— Joey Krastel (@NimbusStorms) February 22, 2017

AtmoLife is always taking it next level…

https://twitter.com/atmolife/status/880081927285460994

Let’s go back to the animals, or in this case a friendly little dinosaur

If you turn today's SPC outlook sideways, it looks just like a running dinosaur. pic.twitter.com/gtWTBxbSHK

— Danny Reese (@DReeseWx) July 2, 2017

It’s not all SPC. And come on, you can’t have a funny weather imagery collection without something from the master.

@VORTEXJeff @islivingston Textbook Kangaroo Lifted Index: pic.twitter.com/YpQmN6Fttq

— Stormchasernick (@stormchasernick) April 23, 2016

A new meaning to TAKE COVER!

.@islivingston Polygonypus is pleased with his peace offering of a block of cheese made by California's happy but slightly terrified cows. pic.twitter.com/2CxFvPZGkR

— Dennis Mersereau (@wxdam) March 22, 2017

There are even shapes in dust

I just couldn't help myself. Say hello to the Saharan Dust-osaurus. #SaharanDust #TropicalTrouble pic.twitter.com/3RMzbsRXlQ

— Britney Trumpy (@btrumpytv) July 19, 2017

Say hello to advisory dolphin

Somebody should help that dolphin in the middle of the country. pic.twitter.com/PCGGnj83a3

— Cory Smith (@wxcory) July 12, 2017

By the looks of this new account, we aren’t the only ones that have noticed this phenomenon

Apparently a dolphin has taken over the US. Watch out Great Plains/Mountain West! You’re getting sprayed!! #spc #convectiveoutlook #storm #storms #stormforecast pic.twitter.com/u9jZBSGCJR

— Paul E. Gone (@SPC_Polygons) February 23, 2018

Have one we missed? Let us know. And join us as we decode all the mysterious storm figures in the weeks and months ahead. Like, is that a wedge? Also, our spring tornado outlook is on its way tomorrow!!