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Will the red sun and yellow sky return today, why did they change colour and how is Hurricane Ophelia involved?

An apocalyptic yellow gloom sent millions across Britain looking skywards on Monday and the same is forecast today

AN apocalyptic yellow and red gloom sent millions across Britain looking skywards on Monday (October 16) - and the same thing could happen again on Wednesday.

So what caused the sky to change colour, what made the sun go red and what did the extraordinary sights have to do with Hurricane Ophelia?

 A flaming orange sky in Powys, Wales
A flaming orange sky in Powys, WalesCredit: Alamy Live News

Why did the sky turn yellow?

Britain was plunged into near-darkness with an eerie yellow glow shrouding much of the UK as the sun turned blood red.

People from the South West to the North of Scotland rushed online to try and figure out what had caused the bizarre scenes.

Some were also claiming the warm wind had brought smells of flowers and sandalwood with it.

The event was caused by dust being sucked up from the Sahara desert and blown north across Britain.

Ash from huge forest fires in Portugal and Spain was also mixed into the atmosphere.

Some UK-bound aircraft were diverted after passengers reported a smell of burning in the cabins.

The fine particles - which pose a deadly risk to asthma sufferers - scatter light of blue wavelengths more than red, giving a dusky appearance to the sky.

Grahame Madge of the Met Office said on Monday: "It's a very similar effect to what you get at sunset.

"There’s more red light coming through and blue light gets scattered leaving more of the red light to come through so that's what is causing the effect.

"It's certainly spectacular at the moment and quite a talking point. We've had a lot of calls about it."

 Saharan dust blown across by Hurricane Ophelia brought a red sun and yellow sky in central London
Saharan dust blown across by Hurricane Ophelia brought a red sun and yellow sky in central LondonCredit: London News Pictures

How was Hurricane Ophelia involved?

An Atlantic storm formerly called Hurricane Ophelia has smashed into Ireland with winds of up to 80mph, downing trees and leaving 120,000 without power.

Ophelia is forecast to lash Western parts of the UK exactly 30 years after the Great Storm of 1987 killed 18.

Weathermen said the storm has sucked warm air from the south and a lack of rain meant the dust was not washed out as it otherwise might have been.

Forecaster Mr Madge said on Monday: "It's all connected with Ophelia.

"On the eastern side of the low-pressure system air is coming up in the southerly direction.



Will the red sun and yellow sky return?

Forecasters say there is a chance the yellow skies and red sun could return on Wednesday.

Dust from wildfires in Portugal and Spain could be blown our way by the tail end of Ophelia.

Met Office meteorologist Emma Sharples told Sun Online on Tuesday: "There's a chance that if there are still fires burning in Iberia then we could see the same thing happen.

"This will depend on whether the fires are still burning and if the winds are blowing in this direction - but there is a chance we could see a bit of a red tinge to the sun tomorrow."

Asthma sufferes were warned to check the forecast and stay indoors if necessary.
