18-05-2025
Mum spots rarely seen 'Smile in the sky' event grinning over North Wales
A Flintshire mum and her son spotted an astonishing sight while fetching in washing from the garden. Six-year-old Idris Blenkley pointed it out: 'Look mummy, there's a rainbow way up in the sky'.
It wasn't a typical rainbow: for a start, it was upside down. It was also accompanied by a stream of wispy cloud as if hurtling through the blue sky.
Not entirely sure what it was, Idris' mum Nicky grabbed some photos and posted them to an online weather platform, describing it as as 'rainbow cloud'. It prompted hundreds of remarks and suggestions, many marvelling at the spectacular sight.
Some people shares similar images taken the same day, all mournfully noting theirs were nowhere near as good as Nicky's. As she suspected, the consensus was some form of light refraction high up in the clouds.
'I had an idea the arc was the result of light refracting through ice crystals high in the atmosphere,' said Nicky, from Buckley. 'But, sadly, that was as far as my knowledge goes.
'I was quick enough to grab my phone and get pictures. It was the first time I'd seen anything like it and we both thought it was beautiful.'
What mum and son saw belonged to the 'ice rainbow' group of phenomena. Specifically, it was believed to be Circumzenithal arc – a type of halo caused by sunlight refracting through ice crystals in high cirrus clouds.
When light hits ice crystals at the right angle, it creates a distinctive upside-down rainbow effect. Commonly, it's called the 'Smile in the sky' – nature's answer to the disappearing Cheshire Cat.
The Met Office said the phenomenon is not actually that rare - but it's not often seen. Online, the forecaster said: 'Circumzenithal arcs are actually quite common as Cirrus clouds occur throughout the year.
"However we only sometimes see them as they are usually obscured by clouds underneath.'
Often, such arcs have only a faint colouration. However the one seen by Nicky and Idris was vivid and obvious. Online, one observer noted: 'Beautiful phenomenon – the colours are supposed to be the purest of any iridescent display.'
The Buckley sighting was on the evening of Monday, April 28, around 6pm. Similar reports were made that day across northeast Wales and Cheshire.
Like many of nature's most spectacular sights, the 'Smile in the sky' didn't last long - it vanished within a few minutes.
'I was sad as I watched it dissipate away,' recalled Nicky. 'But the experience has encouraged me to look up more!' Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox
