Buzz
Weather science is captivating, but even more so are the rare and strange events that can happen in our world. Here is a collection of 20 such exceptional weather anomalies.
20. Moonbows
A rainbow typically forms when sunlight interacts with moisture droplets, often seen in the aftermath of rain. A moonbow is a much rarer occurrence, visible only at night when the moon is low and near full. One famous location to view moonbows is Cumberland Falls in Kentucky, as shown in the image above.
19. Mirages
Mirages happen when light bends to create the illusion of an object or the sky where it isn't actually located. They are most commonly seen on hot surfaces, such as desert sands or pavement.
18. Halos
Similar to rainbows, haloes appear around the Sun when ice crystals in the upper atmosphere refract the Sun’s rays. Occasionally, certain parts of the circle or arcs surrounding the Sun appear brighter, creating what are known as Sun Dogs. Halos can also form around the Moon, and sometimes around bright stars and planets, such as Venus.
17. Belt of Venus
The Belt of Venus is a phenomenon that occurs on dusty evenings when a band of pinkish or brownish sky emerges between the horizon and the sky above.
16. Noctilucent Clouds
Noctilucent clouds are high-altitude clouds that reflect light at dusk, after the Sun has already set, giving the sky a glow with no apparent light source.
15. Aurora Borealis
Also referred to as the Aurora Australis in the southern hemisphere, the Aurora Borealis occurs when charged particles from the Sun reach the Earth's upper atmosphere and become excited. This phenomenon is most often seen near the poles and around the equinoxes. [Photo taken by Senior Airman Joshua Strang. Large scale public domain copy here.]
14. Colored Moons
Under certain atmospheric conditions, the moon may take on various hues, such as blue, orange, or red. Factors like excessive smoke, dust, and eclipses can cause these color shifts.
13. Mammatus Clouds
These uniquely shaped clouds are often linked to storm fronts, particularly those associated with thunderstorms. The exact process of their formation remains unclear. [Image copyright Jorn Olsen, available for purchase here.]
12. St Elmo's Fire
This phenomenon involves luminous plasma appearing on objects, such as ship masts or lightning rods, in areas electrically charged during a thunderstorm. It was named after St Elmo, the patron saint of sailors.
11. Fire Whirls
A fire whirl occurs when a tornado forms too close to a forest fire, or when intense heat in an area creates a swirling vortex.
10. Pyrocumulus Clouds
Another heat-driven phenomenon, pyrocumulus clouds are formed when intense heating of an area causes convection, which then leads to the creation of a cumulus cloud. Common causes of pyrocumulus clouds include volcanoes, forest fires, and even nuclear explosions (such as the mushroom cloud).
9. Sun Pillars
Sun Pillars appear when the setting sun reflects off high, icy clouds at various altitudes, creating a column of light that stretches upwards into the sky. Moon pillars can also be observed under similar conditions.
8. Diamond Dust
Closely related to haloes, diamond dust is a type of fog composed of tiny frozen droplets.
7. Non-aqueous Rain
Rare but real, there are documented instances of rains consisting of animals instead of water. Such occurrences have been recorded from Biblical times to modern history, though meteorologists are still uncertain about their cause.
6. Virga
Virga occurs when ice crystals fall from clouds but evaporate before reaching the ground. They appear as streaks descending from the clouds, sometimes giving the cloud a jellyfish-like shape.
5. Katabatic Winds
These winds move dense air from higher elevations to lower ones due to gravity. They are known by different names in various regions: the Santa Ana winds (Southern California), the Mistral (Mediterranean), the Bora (Adriatic Sea), Oroshi (Japan), Pitaraq (Greenland), and the Williwaw (Tierra del Fuego). The Williwaw and winds in Antarctica can be especially dangerous, sometimes exceeding 100 knots.
4. Fire Rainbow
A fire rainbow is an exceptionally rare occurrence that only happens when the sun is positioned high in the sky, allowing its light to pass through high-altitude cirrus clouds filled with ice crystals.
3. Sprites, Jets, and Elves
These phenomena occur in the upper atmosphere around thunderstorms, manifesting as glowing cones, flashes, or discharges. They were discovered only in the last century due to their brief lifespan (less than a second) and their location in hard-to-reach areas.
Contributor: Cedestra
2. Ball Lightning
Ball lightning is an exceptionally rare phenomenon in which lightning forms into a spherical shape and moves more slowly than regular lightning. It has been reported to reach up to eight feet in diameter and is capable of causing significant damage, including the destruction of entire buildings.
1. Green Ray
Commonly referred to as the Green Flash, this phenomenon occurs fleetingly just before the sun fully sets or after it rises. It appears as a brief green flash just above the horizon, lasting only a few seconds. This optical illusion is caused by the refraction of light in Earth's atmosphere.
