Moon halos spotted ahead of Storm Gerrit
- Published
December's full moon was visible for much of Boxing Day night where the weather allowed, but for many it had an additional ethereal quality - a halo.
As the saying goes, "Ring around the Sun or Moon, rain or snow comes soon."
There is some truth in this weather lore as the phenomenon is caused by refraction of the moonlight by ice crystals from high cirrus clouds, signalling an approaching weather front. On Tuesday night and into Wednesday morning these fronts were part of the approaching low pressure system named Storm Gerrit.
A double moon halo in Redcar and Cleveland as seen by Endy
A lunar corona captured in Guildford, Surrey by Frances B
When moonlight passes through the ice crystals in the upper atmosphere it is reflected by around 22 degrees, forming a ring of light around the Moon. Sometimes it is possible to see a second, larger halo at 44 degrees, just as you might with a rainbow.
This halo appeared over South Lanarkshire captured by Duncan L
Our 成人快手 Weather Watchers captured some spectacular images of this halo, which has nothing to do with the festive season, and everything to do with the approaching storm.
An aircraft contrail streaks across this halo captured in Blyth, Northumberland by Markie
See 成人快手 Weather Watcher pictures in your area and sign up to submit your own at 成人快手 Weather Watchers.
- Published21 December 2023
- Published11 December 2023
