Rare Light Pillars Created Due to Freezing Fog

Mother Nature created her own holiday decorations on Beloit, Wisconsin's night sky on December 9th. 

According to  AccuWeather, the National Weather Service reported of freezing fog for over five hours (10pm to 3am), which helped set the stage for the rare light pillars. 

These sometime colorful light pillars are created by tiny ice crystals when light is refracted. The color depends on the color of what is casting the light. 

There are multiple factors needed in order for these light pillars to appear. The air needs to be "extremely calm and cold, without wind." To visibly see the light pillars, the ice crystals need to be formed close to he ground. 

"Typically, ice crystals are small enough to remain suspended in the air and only form when temperatures are below zero (F)...In most cases, temperatures are -10 to -20 degrees or colder," AccuWeather's Meteorologist David Samuhel said.


Photo Credit: Tom Purdy/ Twitter and Max Tsaparis/ Twitter

Cover Photo Credit: Getty Images


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