Many people across the UK noticed the skies were a vivid red colour last weekend (August 17-18) but what was the reason for this? Sunset and sunrises were enhanced with many making the most of the opportunity to take pictures of the unusually vibrant skies. An environmental phenomenon was the cause behind this and here's why it happened. Why were the skies red over the weekend? The reason skies were a more vivid red colour over the weekend was due to smoke from wildfires travelling across the Atlantic Ocean.
Fires have been happening in North America (especially in Canada) with smoke from this travelling thousands of miles thanks to a split jet stream. A jet stream is a high altitude current of air that occurs when warmer air from the south meets cooler air from the north, and is responsible for much of the UK's climate, BBC News reports . This makes the sky look more orange, BBC forecaster Grant Burleigh-Harvey says, as the smoke particles diffuse the sunlight.
Did you see the full blue supermoon - not blue but red - last night? 🔴 The sun was also pretty eerie at sunset too. Smoke from North American wildfires is still sitting in the skies above the UK but clears today. pic.
twitter.com/dnpARrnlR5 — Simon King (@SimonOKing) August 19, 2024 There is a sepia effect from the red, brown and orange hues which can make for more dramatic views. Sky News meteorologist Kirsty McCabe adds: "You might have noticed the skies have been rather hazy this weekend, thanks to the jet stre.