Florida sky gains unusual hues after Hurricane Dorian

The destruction caused by Hurricane Dorian has been widely reported in the press and on social networks. But what the weather phenomenon caused after its passing was also startling. After Dorian's winds hit the state of Florida, residents experienced stunning but common scenes after hurricanes.

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Images captured by locals show how the sky was painted in shades of purple, or purple if you prefer. KENS5 reported the phenomenon in a timelapse that shows the evolution of colors in the Florida sky:

This is due to light scattering, a natural occurrence, especially after hurricanes have passed. The same was observed last year when Hurricane Michael passed causing devastation. Typically, only the longest wavelengths of light in the color spectrum are visible through the clouds, resulting in sunsets usually in gold, pink and orange. But after Dorian, the sky was over saturated, and the dampness of the atmosphere refracted the light of the setting sun.

Purple skies after #Dorian passed by Jacksonville today. Do you think there's a chance Dorian was a fan of Prince? pic.twitter.com/mpeM3bsVXo

- Amy Pope-Latham, LCSW (@coastalBtherapy) September 5, 2019

Violet is the shortest wavelength in the spectrum, meaning it is rarely visible in the sky. But the dense low clouds, combined with the high humidity of early September, created the perfect conditions for a rare purple sky.