Did you look up Monday evening? If so, it was hard to miss the unusually vivid colors filling the sky. Across Israel, the sunset produced striking shades of red, blue, yellow and many colors in between.
The Israel Meteorological Service said high-altitude clouds covered the country’s skies Monday evening. These were cirrus clouds, also known as feather clouds.
Sunset from Tel Aviv beach
(Video: Lihi Gordon)
(Photo: Lihi Gordon)
(Photo: Lihi Gordon)
They originated in a southerly jet stream flowing at an altitude of about 10 kilometers. Because they form so high in the atmosphere, the clouds are made up of ice crystals.
As the sun sets, its rays strike those ice crystals, scattering the light and helping create the spectacular colors visible across the sky.
High- and mid-level clouds are expected again Tuesday, with a possibility of drizzle or light rain.
Temperatures are forecast to rise slightly Wednesday, with the warming trend continuing Thursday.