Sky on fire

I was up early having my usual first morning cup of coffee when I glanced out the window and saw the morning sky on fire. Grabbing a camera I took a few shots from our porch. Certainly nothing original in these images but beautiful none-the-less.

I’ve always regretted not living in a better location for viewing either sunrises or sunsets but the conditions this morning were such that it was still spectacular.

Shakespeare made a similar statement in the play, Venus and Adonis,

“Like a red morn that ever yet betokened, Wreck to the seaman, tempest to the field, Sorrow to the shepherds, woe unto the birds, Gusts and foul flaws to herdmen and to herds.”

Even the Bible (Matthew XVI: 2-3) states “When in evening, ye say, it will be fair weather: For the sky is red. And in the morning, it will be foul weather today; for the sky is red and lowering.”

So there’s plenty of historical reference to the phenomena. One explanation on why this adage may be somewhat true is:

Red sky at night, sailors delight.

When we see a red sky at night, this means that the setting sun is sending its light through a high concentration of dust particles. This usually indicates high pressure and stable air coming in from the west. Basically good weather will follow.

Red sky in morning, sailor’s warning.

A red sunrise reflects the dust particles of a system that has just passed from the west. This indicates that a storm system may be moving to the east. If the morning sky is a deep fiery red, it means a high water content in the atmosphere. So, rain is on its way.