If the temperature at the crest of the wave drops below the dew point, moisture in the air may condense to form lenticular clouds.

Lenticular clouds generally do not form over low-lying or flat terrain, so many people may have never seen one before and don't know that they can exist.

[3] Pilots of powered aircraft tend to avoid flying near lenticular clouds because of the turbulence and sinking air of the rotor generated at the trailing edge of these clouds, but glider pilots actively seek them out in order to climb in the upward moving air at the leading edge.

"Wave lift" of this kind is often very smooth and strong, and enables gliders to soar to remarkable altitudes and to cover great distances.

As of 2020[update], the gliding world records for both distance (over 3,000 km; 1,864 mi)[4] and absolute altitude (over 22,000 metres; 74,334 ft)[5] were set using such lift.