The storm blows in, dark and ominous, and in minutes, it envelopes the horizon. This was Nebraska, in July of 2022. Within a few hours, the images had gone viral. Theories were flooding in, but the unsettling fact is that no one actually knows why the sky turned green on that day or on any day.
The Reason Behind the Blue Sky and Not Green
For the most part, the color of the sky on a given day comes down to basic science. Although sunlight appears white, it has colors in it. When sunlight passes through the atmosphere, it refracts into a small amount of air. Since blue light scatters much more than red light, it results in a blue sky most days.
When the sun rises or sets, and it needs to travel through much more dust and air as a consequence of the atmosphere, the blue light gets refracted away, and we see reds, oranges, or pink colors. All of this makes sense. We can predict it. A green sky breaks the usual accepted expectations and guidelines that we have lived with.
Read more: The Roanoke Mystery: A Historical Puzzle
Storms That Glow With Mystery
Meteorologists believe that the sources of heavily rain-laden storm clouds and the water itself scatter light differently, especially when a yellow or golden stream of the sun’s rays mixes with the deep dark blue bases of the clouds. This might produce a green tint. The problem is storms happen all the time, and green skies don’t, so why does one storm promote this phenomenon — while another does not? Ask that question to science and prepare for an answer that is not forthcoming.
Tornadoes and the Fear Factor
In parts of the United States that have tornadoes, many areas have survivors who vividly recount the skies turning green before the storm. The green glow looked unnatural, even supernatural. At this point, people start instinctively picking up fear that will only further heighten after Bedlam ensues.
Psychologists explain that human brains are wired to react in a heightened state when the natural world looks as if it could be different. Because we don’t see green above us, the brain region interprets it as danger. Nature’s way of “rewiring” the brain before we enter bedlam may just be the heightened state of alert preparation before disaster strikes. The craziness is not only in the skies, but in the head.
Did You Know?
Did you know that meteorologists will frequently call in reports of green skies as we are getting them?
The Green Dancers of the Night
Not all green skies are frightening. In the Arctic, we look up in awe at the aurora borealis that paints the night sky. Ribbons of green, purple, and red sweep through the air, as if curtains of light are moving across the sky, effortlessly and silently. Science explains this dazzling spectacle by telling us that it is the particles of the sun striking Earth’s magnetic field, thus releasing their energy and creating light. But we suspect, even in similar states of knowledge of ourselves, that we do not know everything. So why is green the most popular color of auroras?
The Eyes of Antiquity on Strange Skies
For centuries before satellite technology, the medieval world and other cultures turned to myths and beliefs when strange colors appeared in the skies. In some cultures, green skies forewarned impending battles and famine. In other cultures, they were evidence of gods and spirits attempting to communicate. For some Islamic scholars, the skies themselves were evidence of God’s power. As stated in the Quran: “Do they not look at the sky above them – how we constructed it and beautified it?” (Surah Qaf 50:6). Strange skies remind us that humans are limited in their knowledge about what can be experienced, and that creation contains endlessly enigmatic questions and answers.
The Sky in Nebraska of 2022
The 2022 storm throughout Nebraska will go down in history as one of the most famous of the green sky events of modern times. The entire city was washed in a green light. Residents described the air as heavy and dreamlike; even experienced storm chasers described an uneasiness about the sky. While meteorologists speculated that a mix of sunset rays refracting within hail-filled storm clouds, locals said that the color was truly unlike anything they had ever experienced. For them, not only was it a weather event, but rather an unreal moment.
Fun Fact
Did you know green skies are not just unique to the United States? You’ll find reports of green skies from China, Canada, and even Australia, indicating the mystery belongs to the whole world.
The Mind under the Glow
Colors affect us more than we expect. Blue soothes our nerves. Yellow lifts us into a better mood. Red gives us excitement and energy. Green typically soothes us because it represents life and renewal. However, when that color washes the sky, it’s awkward at best. A score of people mention they become restless, anxious, or even dizzy. Psychologists attribute this influence to instinct – in effect, heightening our senses and alerting us to danger. In this regard, it’s more than physics – it’s also about how the human mind responds to the unknown.
Green Glows from Across the Universe
The mystery of green skies goes way beyond Earth. On Mars, oxygen atoms actually glow green at night, leaving a strange halo. This is good evidence that green skies aren’t just coincidences, but an example of a natural language happening in the universe that links our home planet to the cosmic possibilities out there.
Science Cannot Fully Explain…Yet.
Researchers concur that, despite the theoretical models they have developed, they cannot reach a resolute conclusion. If storms are complex, green skies are even more complicated. Light can be scattered by particles in the atmosphere, and there are endless small particles in the atmosphere, which is why two skies will never look the same. Therefore, if you see a green sky…it is unique each time. A meteorologist explained this experience well: “Every green sky is a one-time act.” Not being able to fully explain the experience is part of what makes it so memorable.
Looking Ahead: What Green Skies May Mean
Scientists speculate that as climate change results in stronger storms, green skies may also become stronger. Warmer air can hold more water, which can create the conditions for bigger storms, which can complicate the way light scatters when the storms develop.
Final Thoughts
The green sky is beyond a weather event; it is a signal. It signals to us that even with satellites and supercomputers, nature can remind us that it can surprise us with mysteries we still cannot solve. For faithful people, it is a sign of divine power and wonder and opportunities to reflect on creation and existence. So when the skies fire up in green above you, don’t panic at first. Instead, stop. Look up. Experience wonder. And understand, some mysteries are not meant to be solved. They are supposed to be lived.
Book References
- Lyall Watson – Heaven’s Breath: A Natural History of the Wind (New York Review Books, 1984). Explores unusual wind and sky effects, including rare atmospheric colors.
- William R. Corliss – Mysterious Phenomena of the Unexplained Sky (The Sourcebook Project, 1983)Classic reference with documented cases of strange lights, colored skies, and atmospheric mysteries.
- Donald R. Hill – Unexplained Phenomena: A Rough Guide to the Mysterious and Unexplained (Sterling Publishing, 1998). Covers odd atmospheric events, strange lights, and unexplained weather.
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