Community Corner
Fiery Rainbow Clouds Paint Worcester Sky
Those rainbow clouds that painted the afternoon sky in Worcester are called circumhorizontal arcs. We had never heard of it before, either.
WORCESTER, MA — Social media feeds lit up with captures of some strikingly colorful clouds on Tuesday afternoon.
They're part of what's called a "circumhorizontal arc," where sun and ice crystals are high in the atmosphere and a time of year where these clouds are within our sight, reports WCVB-TV.
As National Geographic explains, a circumhorizontal arc is like a "rainbow that's been set on fire."
The rainbow effect is not easy to achieve. It is caused by light passing through wispy cirrus clouds in high altitudes, and can only be seen when the sun is more than 58 degrees above the horizon. Also, the crystals in the clouds have to be shaped like thick plates with their faces parallel to the ground, reports National Geographic.
While it isn't easy to achieve, the phenomenon is more common in the United States in the summer because of its longitudinal position, and may typically seen several times during the summer months. Check out how rare it is in your particular location with this chart.
See some additional photos shared by WCVB-TV.
Photo Credit: Kim Campbell Anderson
