Cold temperatures bring rare light pillars to the area
Local residents captured images of glowing columns of light stretching into the sky on Wednesday morning as temperatures in the Mahoning and Shenango Valleys dropped below zero.
The visual phenomenon, known as light pillars, appeared around 6 a.m. in cities including Alliance and Hermitage. Tasha McMahon, an Alliance resident, reported seeing multiple pillars when the local temperature was approximately -5 degrees.
While the beams may look like solid columns of light rising from the ground, meteorologists and atmospheric scientists say the effect is an optical illusion. The pillars are created when millions of tiny, plate-shaped ice crystals are suspended in the air near the ground.
These crystals act like small mirrors. When they float in the air, their flat surfaces reflect light from sources like streetlights or house lights back down toward the eyes of an observer. This collective reflection creates the appearance of a tall, thin beam.
Storm Tracker 21 Chief Meteorologist Eric Wilhelm noted that very cold temperatures and calm winds are necessary for these crystals to form and remain steady enough to create the effect.
According to the blog “Atmospheric Optics”, these artificial light pillars can appear much taller than similar natural displays caused by the sun. This happens because light from local lamps spreads out in different directions, allowing even slightly tilted crystals to reflect the light.
The crystals responsible for the display are typically located about halfway between the person watching and the actual light source. If the crystals are high in the atmosphere or the light source is very close, the pillars can appear to stretch directly overhead.
The event is rare for the region, as it requires a specific combination of moisture, freezing air, and lack of wind to allow the ice crystals to drift close to the ground.
