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Noctilucent clouds: Summer skies bring striking cloud displays

Noctilucent clouds: Summer skies bring striking cloud displays

BBC News01-07-2025
Striking displays of clouds which are mostly only seen in the summer months have been appearing in the skies over Northern Ireland in recent nights.Noctilucent clouds occur at extremely high levels in what is known as the mesosphere - a layer in the atmosphere above where our regular clouds and weather systems live, about 76-85km high - on the edge of space.The clouds require very low temperatures in this part of the upper atmosphere, which only happen in the summer months, to allow water vapor to freeze into ice crystals.These ice crystals then need to condense onto dust particles, which can originate from meteors or even volcanic eruptions.
These ice crystals then need to condense onto dust particles, which can originate from meteors or even volcanic eruptions.Noctilucent clouds, also known as night-shining clouds, become visible when the sunlight, even though the sun is below the horizon, illuminates them from below, creating a shimmering effect.According to the Met Office, the best time to see noctilucent clouds is on clear nights between late May and mid-August, about 90 to 120 minutes after sunset or before sunrise. Sightings are most common during June and July.
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Storm Floris weather warning upgraded to amber ahead of 80mph winds
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Storm Floris weather warning upgraded to amber ahead of 80mph winds

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Storm Floris to bring 90mph winds & danger to life risk to Scotland with 10-hour amber alert
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Scottish Sun

timea minute ago

  • Scottish Sun

Storm Floris to bring 90mph winds & danger to life risk to Scotland with 10-hour amber alert

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Storm Floris to cause travel disruption as wind warnings upgraded
Storm Floris to cause travel disruption as wind warnings upgraded

South Wales Guardian

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Storm Floris to cause travel disruption as wind warnings upgraded

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