The sky can appear yellow outside mainly because of weather conditions like severe thunderstorms or passing storms, which can cause the clouds to scatter sunlight differently, producing a yellowish tint visible to the naked eye. Other factors contributing to a yellow sky include poor air quality, pollution, wildfires, dust, or pollen in the atmosphere. These particles affect how sunlight scatters, especially when the sun is low or during stormy weather, leading to unusual sky colors including yellow.
Why the sky looks yellow
- Storm clouds can block certain light and help yellow light scatter more, making the sky look yellow.
- The scattering of sunlight by particles in the air—such as smoke from wildfires or pollution—can tint the sky yellow or orange.
- After a severe thunderstorm, the atmosphere may contain moisture or dust that interacts with sunlight to create this effect.
What it means
- A yellow sky often indicates passing or approaching storms but does not necessarily mean a tornado is imminent.
- It can be a normal atmospheric condition reflecting environmental factors and lighting angles.
This yellow sky phenomenon, while sometimes eerie, is generally not a cause for immediate alarm but rather a sign of particular weather or atmospheric conditions at that time.
