Rare Nacreous 'rainbow' cloud spotted over Worcester

The spectacle, known more scientifically as a Nacreous cloud, is usually formed in polar regions when the sun is just below the horizon.

People in Worcester were able to see the amazing colourful clouds that had formed over the city when they woke this morning (Thursday).

One photographer, Anil Patel, said he saw the rainbow clouds on All Saints Road. 

RARE: The cloud was spotted across the city. (Image: Anil Patel)He said he had woken up later than usual and spotted the clouds outside his bedroom window. 

Nacreous clouds are illuminated from below, often glow in vivid colours, and are normally 68,500 to 100,000 feet in the sky.

They take the shape of large, thin discs, often reflecting vivid colours.

A spokesperson for the Met Office said: "Nacreous clouds form in the lower stratosphere over polar regions when the sun is just below the horizon. 

People stood and watched in amazement. (Image: Wendy Griffin)"The ice particles that form nacreous clouds are much smaller than those that form more common clouds. 

"These smaller particles scatter light in a different way, which is what creates the distinctive luminescent appearance.

Many residents stopped to snap up pictures of the clouds. (Image: Laura Ward)"Due to their high altitude and the curvature of the Earth’s surface, these clouds are lit up by sunlight from below the horizon and reflect it to the ground, shining brightly well before dawn and after dusk.

"They are most likely to be viewed when the Sun is between 1º and 6º below the horizon and in places with higher latitudes, such as Scandinavia and northern Canada.

"For this reason, they are sometimes known as polar stratospheric clouds. Nacreous clouds only form below -78 °C so are most likely to occur during the polar winter."