After reviewing the online evidence, I can safely say rainbow clouds are no longer rare and that they probably are not caused by ice crystals. ๐
Update 1: The "rare" phenomena is happening everywhere!
— The Astronomy Guy (@astrooalert) May 5, 2026
Lights of green, violet, and gold spread across the sky Forming what looks like angel wings above Do you see it ๐ณ✨ pic.twitter.com/GNg6HAjJq4
A single, colossal storm cloud dominates the sky over the Nebraska landscape, capturing a rare moment where a powerful lightning strike and a vibrant rainbow share the same frame. pic.twitter.com/odlRWxyixb
— Amazing Nature (@AmazingNature00) May 5, 2026
Stunning video shows an ultra rare phenomenon of iridescent clouds, which appears when sunlight interacts with lingering raindrops in the air after it rains. pic.twitter.com/x6iXnMOS1o
— The Weather Channel (@weatherchannel) May 3, 2026
๐☁️ THE CLOUD THAT WORE A RAINBOW CROWN
— The Astronomy Guy (@astrooalert) April 30, 2026
๐ Tampa Bay Causeway, Florida
A rare iridescent glow formed on the edge of this towering storm cloud — created when tiny droplets and ice crystals bend sunlight into a rainbow rim. ๐✨
It usually lasts only seconds… but this one… pic.twitter.com/nKF6to1CHj
A magnificent view of an iridescent cloud
— Astropics (@astropics) April 3, 2026
This rare and remarkable phenomenon arises from the diffraction of sunlight by water droplets or ice crystals within the clouds, imparting a vibrant, rainbow-like appearance pic.twitter.com/OTx5d1nYnt
A real rainbow cloud just painted the sky over Jonggol, Indonesia.
— The Figen (@TheFigen_) May 4, 2026
Absolutely unreal! pic.twitter.com/ySEuOe0vO4
Rainbow clouds over Ribeirรฃo Claro, Brazil. pic.twitter.com/ZkzJZG52T3
— Curio ๐ฟ (@curious_X_) May 3, 2026
No, it’s not a painting—these surreal skies are real! This is a rare ‘fire rainbow’ spotted over the Rocky Mountains, created when sunlight hits ice-crystal clouds at just the right angle. Seeing a fire rainbow requires extreme luck.pic.twitter.com/ceSkFKokcG
— The Astronomy Guy (@astrooalert) April 16, 2026
Incredible rainbow clouds over the grasslands of Mongoliapic.twitter.com/OkRjyxZHcN
— Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) March 30, 2026
A Rainbow Sorm over the towering peaks of Denali, Alaska, creating a mesmerizing display of light, rain, and clouds. ๐ฆ️๐️ pic.twitter.com/dZ3em0D0xb
— Night Sky Today (@NightSkyToday) April 10, 2026
A massive and powerful thunderstorm, accompanied by breathtaking rainbow-colored clouds ๐๐ฉ️, swept across the historic Stonehenge stones on February 22, 2026, at 6:01 PM.
— The Astronomy Guy (@astrooalert) February 24, 2026
This moment was captured by a man named Michael, who was waiting for sunset to document the scene. The… pic.twitter.com/c8atYFMtGC
Rainbow clouds over Norway ๐๐ณ๐ดpic.twitter.com/zmretaZpLT
— Cosmic Gaia (@CosmicGaiaX) April 5, 2026
A RAINBOW FAN AT SUNSET
— The Astronomy Guy (@astrooalert) March 4, 2026
It happened off the Outer Banks, North Carolina, right when the Sun slipped into a thick cloud wall and the ocean went dark except for one bright path of light.
The clouds blocked most of the sunlight, but the edges and gaps let beams burst through —… pic.twitter.com/Z7NplToDvJ
⚡️ This is what pilots sometimes see above thunderstorms.
— The Astronomy Guy (@astrooalert) March 10, 2026
They’re called Red Sprites — massive electrical discharges that appear 30–50 miles above storms near the edge of space.
They last only milliseconds… which is why capturing them on camera is extremely rare. Nature… pic.twitter.com/iUcs7Cuh6y
⚡️ These are Red Sprites.pic.twitter.com/P9lhkfmDFZ
— The Astronomy Guy (@astrooalert) April 21, 2026
Red Sprites๐ฎ pic.twitter.com/iSHuvOh8wZ
— The Astronomy Guy (@astrooalert) March 11, 2026
A flawless “ring lightning” formation lit up the sky over Norman, Oklahoma ⛈️๐️
— Amazing Physics (@amazing_physics) May 5, 2026
A glowing circle hung above the rooftops like a halo, sending bolts cascading in every direction—igniting power lines, cell towers, and rooftops for miles. For three seconds, night turned into day,… pic.twitter.com/J4l3ApQusD
UPDATE 1:
Colourful Sun Rays ๐ pic.twitter.com/dYHccDgEwm
— The Astronomy Guy (@astrooalert) May 6, 2026
Extremely Rare Solar Halo captured during Sunrise.☀️ pic.twitter.com/YNNkGjY4Tp
— Dailyscienceinfo (@NatureScienceA1) May 6, 2026
Stunning Fire Rainbow Clouds over New Zealand pic.twitter.com/fHcswXAmbA
— For all Curious (@fascinatingonX) May 6, 2026
Painting the sky in Glacier National Park. ๐✨ pic.twitter.com/VvVIOqrSkk
— Wondrous Nature (@nature_c2ngn) May 5, 2026
Stunning Fire Rainbow Clouds๐ pic.twitter.com/p6hdmfC28p
— The Astronomy Guy (@astrooalert) May 6, 2026
A stunning "sun candle" lighting up the sky in British Columbia
— RobLogic (@RobLogic) May 7, 2026
Sun candles often appears during cold, clear conditions (like from airplanes or in snowy mountains) and can resemble a portal to another world pic.twitter.com/ACNtfabnBm
Behold Nature’s Own Rainbow Canvas!
— The Astronomy Guy (@astrooalert) May 7, 2026
This Stunning Iridescent Cloud arches across the sky, its pink, blue and gold hues shimmering like a rainbow made of light itself.
It’s formed when sunlight shines through a thin layer of water droplets or ice crystals in the cloud, causing… pic.twitter.com/0SvrZT41ns
— ☁ (@canekzapata) May 7, 2026
Sky Pillars are a Rare Optical Illusion that happens when light reflects off ice crystals suspended in the air. ๐ฎ
— Wondrous Nature (@nature_c2ngn) May 8, 2026
These ice crystals float high in the atmosphere or close to the ground & align in a way that reflects light vertically ๐ง pic.twitter.com/y9EHcC2c5Y
