A rare halo appeared around the sun across Israel on Saturday afternoon, prompting many people to photograph and share images of the striking phenomenon.
Dr. Amir Givati, director of the Israel Meteorological Service, said the ring could be seen in different parts of the country and was caused by high-altitude clouds typical of heatwave conditions.
“In various places in Israel today, a halo can be seen around the sun,” Givati said. “The halo is created when there are high clouds in the sky, as there are today, which are characteristic of sharav conditions.”
Sharav is a Hebrew term for a hot, dry weather system common in Israel and the region, often accompanied by dust and unusually high temperatures. “These clouds reach us from the south in the upper layers of the atmosphere,” Givati said.
Because the clouds are at an altitude of 6 to 8 kilometers, or about 4 to 5 miles, they are made of ice particles, he said. When sunlight hits the small ice particles, it creates a ring of light around the sun.
“The meeting between the sun’s rays and the small ice particles creates a halo around the sun,” Givati said. “Indeed, a rare sight!”