MANSFIELD, Ohio—Drivers may have noticed something peculiar during their morning commute Tuesday—streaks of light, perhaps, painting the sky. Those streaks are known as “light pillars,” and they caught peoples’ attention on different occasions last year and are beginning to crop up again this year.
Steve Roof of Mansfield was among those who noticed the light pillars early Tuesday morning while on his way to work. He saw the pillars at approximately 6:30 a.m. on Logan Road in Mansfield, near Therm-O-Disc, said his wife, Donna Roof.
Light pillars may be seen in specific weather conditions. In a previous interview, Tom King, meteorologist from the National Weather Service in Cleveland, listed what atmospheric conditions are necessary in order for the light pillars to be visible: cold air, little wind or no wind at all, and moisture in the air.
The light pillars are made up of millions of microscopic ice nuclei. “Ice nuclei are microscopic pieces of clay. It’s just like dust that floats all over the place,” said King.
He explained, “The light pillars are basically ice crystals reflecting light from street lights, the sun, or the moon in some cases.”
People may have more opportunities to spot the light pillars in the coming weeks. If you have photos, we always are open to site submissions. If you prefer social media, feel free to tweet @RichlandSource on Twitter with #lightpillars, or post them to our Facebook page.
