[1][2] The composition is very similar to that of Fine Wind, Clear Morning (or Red Fuji) from the same series, but the atmosphere is markedly different.

The snowy cap rises sharply over a darkly menacing base which has been split by a bolt of lightning rendered with powerful, almost abstract, zigzag lines.

As with Fine Wind, Clear Morning, a thin line of Prussian blue is used in the upper portion of the sky, but here the clouds have a smoke-like quality and appear to cling to the mountain.

[4] Soon after publication the blocks were slightly damaged with the loss of one of the brown dots below the summit and the end of the 'hitsu' ('brush of') character from Hokusai's signature.

The flash of the lightning bolt vividly silhouettes a group of pine trees at the foot of the mountain, cut from a new block, making them appear close to the viewer.