This is why the sky turned pink and purple across Wales
Social media has been inundated with people taking pictures of the sunset in Wales on Thursday evening.
This luminous light show of iridescent pinks and purples provided quite the sight in the skies above.
Some on socials reckoned it was because Doctor Who was filming locally, others with much more vivid imaginations believed it was an imminent alien invasion. However, the truth is much more straightforward.
It may not be an everyday occurrence but pink and purple skies at sunset are perfectly normal if a little rare.
According to BBC Wales weatherman Derek Brockway: “Due to the low angle of the sun’s rays at sunset, pink wavelengths light up the bottom of the cloud. These pink clouds are superimposed on a dark blue sky. The combination of pink and dark blue can make the sky look purple.”
No filter! pic.twitter.com/Lwq3eIsviK
— Dai Lewis (@thedailewis) December 7, 2023
Sarah Keith-Lucas from BBC Weather added: “Dust, pollution, water droplets, and cloud formations”can influence the colours of the sky.
“In addition to these influences, wavelengths play a large part in what colours we see in the sky.
“Occasionally, pink and purple will appear partially due to the optical illusion of the pink wavelengths lighting up the base of the cloud, and these pink clouds superimposed on a dark blue sky. The combination of pink and dark blue can make the sky appear a deep purple.”
So there we are, while the skies made for a startling sight this evening meteorology has the answer.
As you were.
The sky is pink over Cardiff! pic.twitter.com/0QluHgv72r
— Mike Hughes (@MikeHughes_) December 7, 2023
Sky over Merthyr Tydfil looking very weird this evening with thick pink and orange misty clouds. What’s this all about @DerekTheWeather ? pic.twitter.com/WIc0lktuwF
— Emily Price (@EPriceJourno) December 7, 2023
Err…the sky is purple… pic.twitter.com/jqgAPUuW0F
— Owen Thomas (@owenplaywright) December 7, 2023
Purple sky in Cardiff
Weird pic.twitter.com/tV3YRtXYXU
— schwitzy (@schwitzyoo) December 7, 2023
The meteorological explantation
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Ermmm across Wales?? Cardiff is not ‘all of Wales’
Too true. We did not get the same effect up in Ceredigion, but we have had some very nice colours in the mornings when the cloud is broken.
Correct. Cardiff is not all of Wales. This phenomenon was seen across the whole of Wales though. Calm down
No doubt Stephen “ap” Hughes thinks this is “woke”
Sorry but if it was naturally occurring it would happen more often. Yes, I have my conspiracy hat on atm.
Just about caught this in Bangor. Pretty damn impressive if I do say so myself.