Rainbow halo seen around sun in Hidalgo County

Hidalgo County residents stared at the clouds Wednesday to see the rainbow circle that had formed around the sun.

The effect was caused from high clouds and the ice crystals inside of them — nothing to worry about, said meteorologist Barry Goldsmith of the National Weather Service in Brownsville.

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The sun was reflecting off the ice crystals inside the high cirrus clouds creating the rainbow colors, Goldsmith said. It is much luck shining a flashlight on a crystal and seeing the rainbow colors. The clouds are just the right thickness for the effect to take place.

Goldsmith said he received calls from the Pharr Fire Department asking about the dangers of the effect, but he emphasized that it is nothing be alarmed about, explaining that it actually occurs more frequently in other parts of the United States.

“The reason it’s freaking people out is because most of the time out here we don’t get thick high clouds,” he said, explaining that the humidity in the Valley usually causes lower clouds.

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Gail Burkhardt covers Mission, western Hidalgo County, Starr County and general assignments for The Monitor. She can be reached at (956) 683-4462.