Residents across Quetta and several parts of Balochistan were left mesmerized early Tuesday morning after witnessing a beautiful multi-colored halo in the sky. The rare display of lights appeared around 6:20 am and vanished within minutes.
The colorful phenomenon was spotted over Quetta, Noshki, Dalbandin, and nearby regions, creating stunning patterns across the horizon. Witnesses described it as a “magical ring of colors” hovering in the sky before fading away.
Met Office Explains the Phenomenon
According to Anjum Nazir, spokesperson for the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), the spectacle was caused by the formation of a lenticular cloud over the eastern mountain range of Koh-i-Murdar near Quetta.
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He explained that the lenticular cloud appeared just before sunrise at 6:20 a.m. and disappeared around 6:45 a.m. “These cloud formations are stationary, lens-shaped structures that typically form on the downwind side of mountains,” Nazir said.
What Are Lenticular Clouds?
The Met Office clarified that lenticular clouds form when moist, stable air flows over mountains, creating wave patterns in the atmosphere. As the air cools to its dew point, clouds form over the peaks, while air in lower areas warms and evaporates the vapor, giving the clouds their distinct lens-like shape.
“These clouds often appear smooth and layered,” Nazir added, “and their flying-saucer-like shape sometimes leads people to mistake them for UFOs (Unidentified Flying Objects).”
Experts say lenticular clouds are uncommon in Pakistan’s skies, especially over Balochistan’s mountain ranges. The breathtaking halo effect seen on Tuesday morning was the result of sunlight scattering through the moisture-laden layers of the lenticular cloud, producing the dazzling colors that captured public attention.
