Halo around the sun

I was about to set out on one of my regular walks at Upolu, when I looked up and saw this halo around the sun. It’s the first I’ve seen here (which doesn’t mean there haven’t been others).

In days of yore, halos were considered a sign of impending bad weather. In this case, there’s some evidence to back that up. The ice crystals that cause halos are found in clouds, high in the troposphere, and these clouds are often a sign of an approaching weather front. Sure enough, the next day was fairly wet though, ironically, not in the area where I saw the halo.

23 thoughts on “Halo around the sun”

  1. Pingback: Rainbow around the sun | Graham's Island

  3. naturebackin

    Just reading the comments here, so sorry to see that you have been laid off during these difficult times. I imagine that Hawaii is heavily dependent on tourism. We can but hope that the crisis, terrible as it is, won’t be prolonged over many many months. Tough times as you say everywhere, coupled with the awful uncertainty. Keep safe.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Graham Post author

      The layoff wasn’t a shock, it had been very slow for a while and clearly wasn’t going to get better for several months. I hope the company can wait out this interlude and start up again, but I’m not exactly optimistic about that.

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    1. Graham Post author

      We have around 10 cases in Hawaii, but only one on the Big Island. All are associated with people coming here, with the virus, from elsewhere. I think the powers that be are hoping to clamp down before someone can infect someone else here in the state. This is why the governor has asked people not to visit Hawaii. Of course, given that tourism is one of the main employers in the state, that wish, if fulfilled, has side effects!

      Liked by 1 person

        1. Graham Post author

          Well, I was working in tourism but I got laid off! It’s going to be tough sledding here for a while I think, but hopefully things will get back to normal later this year.

          Liked by 1 person

            2. The Snow Melts Somewhere

              I’ve got a cold now but I think it’s just pollen allergy – the pollen season is starting here. But now I should really just stay at home I guess since you can’t know… well, I was pretty isolated anyway (though we live downtown). Happy weekend! 😊

              Liked by 1 person

            3. Graham Post author

              I hope you feel better soon. I’m fine here, but every time I cough or blow my nose I think, ‘Oh, is this it?’ My wife and I aren’t terribly social so we joke that we’ve been practicing self-isolation for years.

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            7. Graham Post author

              Yes, the ‘like’ button does seem inappropriate sometimes. My understanding is that there’s no problem about the supplies available, it’s the distribution that’s unable to keep up. Stores are placing restrictions on how much people can buy so that might help, and presumably those who brought a thousand toilet rolls will not be so greedy as to keep adding to their stash when they’re restocked.

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    1. Graham Post author

      Well, they’re associated with ice crystals so I guess that’s appropriate. I’ve seen them before elsewhere, but not often.

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      1. David M

        Sun dogs were more common, two spots either side of the sun. I suppose they’re an aerial version of a sun pillar as sun pillars occur at sunrise and sunset and require correctly aligned ice crystals.

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