Maryland Weather: Sunshine, snow and a "snowbow" - Weather forecast: Meteorology and climate conditions in the Baltimore region from reporter Frank Roylance

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February 3, 2011

Sunshine, snow and a "snowbow"

Appaloosa in snow FROM TODAY'S PRINT EDITIONS:

Charlie Charnigo, of Abbottstown, Pa., was driving near Carlisle recently when he saw what he described as “wavy … rainbow rays” moving across the snowy fields as he drove. “I … grew up in the country and have never seen such a thing.”

It’s a snowbow. On the ground, or perhaps in blowing snow just above the surface, the principle is the same: Sunlight striking the snow is bent, or “refracted” inside billions of ice crystals, spread into its constituent colors and reflected to your eyes.

(SUN PHOTO: Perry Thorsvik, 1997)

Posted by Frank Roylance at 12:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: From the Sun's print edition, Sky Notes

Comments

I don't know . . . to me that looks like a horse.

FR: Amazing illusion, isn't it?

Posted by: AVC | February 3, 2011 3:09 PM

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About Frank Roylance

This site is the Maryland Weather archive. The current Maryland Weather blog can be found here.

Frank Roylance is a reporter for The Baltimore Sun. He came to Baltimore from New Bedford, Mass. in 1980 to join the old Evening Sun. He moved to the morning Sun when the papers merged in 1992, and has spent most of his time since covering science, including astronomy and the weather. One of The Baltimore Sun's first online Web logs, the Weather Blog debuted in October 2004. In June 2006 Frank also began writing comments on local weather and stargazing for The Baltimore Sun's print Weather Page. Frank also answers readers’ weather queries for the newspaper and the blog. Frank Roylance retired in October 2011. Maryland Weather is now being updated by members of The Baltimore Sun staff

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