A rare sun halo was on display for Ballito residents today, drawing eyes skyward to witness the striking ring of light around the sun.

According to the South African Weather Service, a sun halo forms when sunlight is refracted by tiny ice crystals suspended in high-level cirrus clouds.

These thin, wispy clouds sit more than 6 000 metres above the Earth and contain ice rather than water droplets, creating the ideal conditions for the natural spectacle.

The luminous ring is known scientifically as a 22-degree halo, named for the angle at which sunlight bends as it passes through six-sided ice crystals. As the light enters and exits the crystals, it is dispersed into its component colours, often producing a subtle rainbow-like glow around the circle.

Sun halos are relatively uncommon and tend to catch people by surprise, often prompting a flurry of photographs and social media posts. While visually striking, the phenomenon is completely harmless.

Weather experts note that halos can sometimes indicate a shift in weather patterns. Cirrus clouds frequently form ahead of approaching rain or storm systems, meaning today’s spectacle may signal changing conditions later in the week.

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