Photo of the Day: It’s a beautiful morning…

Metro Wire Staff

WHITING — Sun dogs and a sun pillar lit up the morning sky Monday along County Highway HH in Whiting, creating a vivid winter display for early travelers.

According to WAOW meteorologist Justin Lowe, “Right above the sun, it is often called a sun spire or a sun pillar. To the left and right, the bright spots are called sun dogs.”

The optical effects form when sunlight interacts with flat, ice crystals suspended in thin, high clouds. Sun dogs appear as bright spots flanking the sun as light bends through the crystals, while sun pillars stretch vertically as sunlight reflects off their flat surfaces.

The displays are most common on cold mornings when the sun is low on the horizon and are harmless atmospheric phenomena.

Morning temps on Jan. 19 sat at about -6.