Residents across Manitoba can be treated to a dazzling display of nature's artistry in colder snaps in Manitoba winters.
These luminous halos, often appearing as glowing rainbows flanking the real sun, are a common yet mesmerizing winter phenomenon in the province.
Sun dogs, also known as "parhelia," form when sunlight interacts with ice crystals suspended in the atmosphere. The crystals act like prisms, bending and refracting light to create bright spots on either side of the sun, often accompanied by a rainbow-like halo.
While sun dogs can appear anywhere in the world, Manitoba's expansive skies and cold winters make them a frequent sight. Known for their vibrant colours and dramatic symmetry, sun dogs are often most vivid on clear, crisp mornings when temperatures dip well below freezing.
Sun dogs form when hexagonal ice crystals in high-altitude cirrus clouds are oriented horizontally as they fall through the atmosphere. The angle of the crystals refracts sunlight at exactly 22 degrees, creating brilliant spots of light.
The colder the temperature, the more defined and vivid the sun dogs can become, making Manitoba's frigid winters the perfect backdrop for this natural light show.
While sun dogs are undeniably beautiful, they also serve as a reminder of the extreme cold that can grip the Prairies.
Sun dogs prompt many residents to grab their cameras and phones, sharing their stunning captures on social media. From sweeping prairie landscapes to snow-covered towns, the images highlight the unique beauty of Manitoba's winter skies.
Whether you see them as a marvel of creation or a poetic symbol of winter, sun dogs are a quintessential part of Prairie life. For now, they serve as a bright spot—literally—during the shortest and coldest days of the year.