What does a red or pink sky in the morning mean?
A warning? Or is it a delight?
A pink or red sky at any time of day or night is a lovely sight to see.
Sun streaming through the clouds – usually producing a tint of pink, red or orange – feels like a sign of good luck.
At the very least, it makes a change from usual skies we see: blue, completely white with clouds, or dark, dark grey as a rain or thunderstorm rolls in.
But what does it actually mean for us, and will it have any affect on our day?
Here’s what you need to know.
What’s the meaning of a red or pink sky?
You’ll have likely heard this common phrase: ‘Red sky at night, shepherd’s delight.’
The message behind this saying dates back to the Bible, but the exact origins are unknown.
Essentially it means that, by judging when a red sky appeared, a shepherd could predict whether good weather was on the horizon for herding their sheep.
If the sky is red at night, it’s supposed to signify that the next day’s weather will be pleasant and, crucially, dry.
As the saying continues, you’ll next hear: ‘Red sky in the morning, shepherd’s warning.’
If the morning brings a tint of rouge to the clouds, then that means good weather has already been and gone.
Rain, wind, dark clouds and, if you’re really unlucky, possibly even storms lie ahead for the rest of the day.
You may have also heard a similar saying, which goes: ‘Pink sky at night, sailor’s delight’. It has exactly the same meaning, but refers to workers at sea, rather than on farms.
The Met Office has confirmed that these old adages are generally true, as it’s all to do with pressure systems that control the weather.
A reddish colour in the morning comes from a high-pressure weather system moving to the east, ushering in a low-pressure system (which typically means rain).
At night, red appears because the sun, as it sets, is shining through and illuminating a lot of dust particles at high pressure.
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