Formation of stratocumulus with light passing through some of its gaps (hence perlucidus). The weather situation was perfect for the formation of such clouds as very low-level instability was limited by a strong inversion higher up in the atmosphere at an altitude of around 1.5km. Such air profile setup does not allow the cloud to rise much because of stable and dry air higher up hence spreading out horizontally as per this photo. A high pressure area synonym of a positive North Atlantic Oscillation was present over the Maltese Islands. The cloud cover was so widespread that it was visible through satellite imagery (2nd thumbnail).