Why is the Sky Yellow During a Storm?

Many people think that seeing a yellow sky during a storm is a sign of a tornado or hurricane. However, this is not necessarily true.

The color of the sky depends on how light interacts with atmospheric particles. Under normal circumstances, blue light scatters the most, so it is usually blue.Why is the Sky Yellow During a Storm?

Dust

Many people associate yellow skies with severe thunderstorms or hurricanes, but that’s not necessarily true. In reality, any kind of storm cloud can make the sky look eerily yellowish. This happens because the clouds scatter the short-wave blue light coming from the Sun. This can cause longer wavelengths like red and yellow to become more visible to our eyes.

Dust in the air can also cause a golden-yellow hue at sunset. This is due to the fact that the Sun is lower in the horizon at this time of day and therefore passes through more atmosphere. The increased path length through the atmosphere allows more particles to scatter blue light, resulting in a yellow color to our eyes.

Pollen, smoke in the air, and other atmospheric particles can also enhance the appearance of yellow wavelengths. This is especially common during or just after a wildfire. These particles can change the way our brains perceive color, making the sky seem more yellow or orange.

Pollen

A thick haze of pollen is covering the Greater Boston area, causing allergy symptoms in many. The pollen is mostly from conifers, including pine, spruce and fir trees. An online video from a tree service company showing the pollen clouds erupting from a single tree has gone viral.

Severe thunderstorms and even pollution can cause the sky to turn yellow in some places. This is because the particles in these clouds change how the atmosphere filters light. The blue and violet wavelengths are largely absorbed, while red, orange and yellow wavelengths scatter through.

The colors of the sky at sunrise and sunset are also related to this. When the sun is low in the sky, it passes through a thicker layer of the atmosphere. This allows more of the longer wavelengths to reach our eyes, which can make it look orange or red. Smoke from wildfires can have the same effect, and this is the cause of the strange yellow hue seen in parts of North America.

Wildfires

If you live in the northeast, you may have woken up to a foggy yellow-orange sky this week, thanks to wildfires. This is a result of Rayleigh scattering, where tiny particles of smoke, dust, and other substances scatter blue light. The longer wavelength colors of red and orange get through, which is why the sky looks a little different around sunset time.

It’s a similar effect you see at sunrise, when the sun has to travel further through the atmosphere. This helps the long wavelengths of red and orange pass through while blocking shorter wavelengths, which is why the sky seems a little pink or red during those times.

Smog, pollution, severe thunderstorm clouds, and poor air quality can all make the sky look yellowish. But it isn’t a sign that something catastrophic is about to happen. It just means that the weather is bad, and you should stay inside. (Although it’s hard to do, especially when you’re really excited about a game!) It also can be a sign that you need to wash your hair more often.

Storms

During thunderstorms, the sunlight passes through the clouds and scatters them, sometimes resulting in a greenish hue. This is due to the presence of dust, pollutants, and smoke in the atmosphere. Similarly, when the sun is setting or rising, the light is scattered in different directions depending on atmospheric conditions.

However, this does not mean that yellow skies are a sure sign of a hurricane or tornado. In fact, it is more likely to indicate that the storm is bringing golf-ball or tennis ball-sized hail.

Bizarre sky colors have been observed in several countries worldwide. For instance, in October 2019, Japan experienced a bright purple sky that preceded Typhoon Hagibis. Similarly, when the skies turned blood red in Zushan, China on May 7, 2022, it made people panic. But the local Bureau of Meteorology explained that it was most likely caused by refraction and scattering of light from ships in the port. Hence, it is important to read the weather forecast and prepare accordingly when the sky turns yellow read more.