Solar Halo

Old wives’ tales and farmers’ sayings often offer predictions about the weather. Phrases such as “Red sky in morning, sailor take warning” and “red sky at night, sailor’s delight” are axioms used to help people at sea prepare for possible changes in the weather.

Another such phrase is, “if the sun has a halo, rain to follow.”

As was the case of this spectacular halo around the sun last Sunday, rain certainly did follow. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), sun halos are made up of ice crystals, which is an indicator that there is moisture high in the atmosphere. If the halo is followed by thin, wispy clouds, then a storm system is approaching, typically within 24 to 48 hours.