The UK has been hit by a rare weather phenomenon known as 'Diamond Dust'.
The vast majority of the country woke up to find the outside covered in frost. And in some parts, 'Diamond Dust' was also spotted – specifically in the north of the UK.
Kevin Bradshaw took photos of the sighting in Irlam, Greater Manchester, and posted the images on social media to try and find out what exactly it was that he saw. He said: “Light pillars visible this morning as seen from Irlam, UK. Light catching falling ice crystals.”
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The images show what looks like beams of light pointing high into the sky, seen for miles around in the area – he also took a video of the pillars, showing what appears to be snow glimmering in the moonlight. And weather expert Anthony's Stormy World replied to explain exactly what the beams were.
He said: “It's quite rare… Think it's called Diamond Dust. It's like tiny ice crystals falling out of the clear Blue skies.
“Last time I seen it a few years back it was accumulating like snow on the ground in Bolton under clear skies.”
And he later added: “It's great that Diamond Dust. Very rare but probably lots seeing it across Manchester this morning.”
According to the Met Office's official website explanation of the phenomenon, the Diamond Dust phenomenon should only exist when temperatures are below -30c . . . which is nowhere near the -3c that parts of Greater Manchester found itself under this morning.
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They claimed: “The meteorological phenomenon is also referred to as ice crystals. The name diamond dust comes from the sparkling effect created when light reflects on the ice crystals in the air.”
The vast majority of the country is currently under yellow weather warnings from the Met Office for snow and ice over the next two days, which could lead to be rare sightings of Diamond Dust. The Daily Star has contacted the Met Office for a comment.
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