The Sky Turned Electric Purple Just Hours Before Typhoon Hagibis Hit Japan

As people in Japan prepared to evacuate their homes before Typhoon Hagibis’ arrival, they looked up to see a strange phenomenon—an electric purple sky. The unusual sunset might look beautiful, but it was an indicator of the devastating destruction to come. Killing at least 40 people, the powerful typhoon was the worst storm to hit the country in decades.

Meteorologists say the colorful sky is a result of “scattering”—a weather phenomenon that occurs when heavy rain washes large molecules from the sky, leaving only small molecules. This causes the light to scatter around the moisture in the air, causing the strange violet hues.

From Osaka to Kobe, people all over Japan posted pictures of the sky on social media, with many expressing their concern for what’s to come. “A beautiful scene, indeed,” one Twitter user wrote. “But beneath it lies a big catastrophe. Pray for Japan, everyone.”

Check out some of the social media posts below, revealing the eerily beautiful scenes.

As people in Japan prepared for Typhoon Hagibis’ arrival, they looked up to see a strange phenomenon—an electric purple sky.

The colorful sky is a result of a weather term called “scattering.”

h/t: [SoraNews24]

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Emma Taggart

Emma Taggart is a Contributing Writer at My Modern Met. Originally from Northern Ireland, she is an artist now based in Berlin. After graduating with a BA in Fashion and Textile Design in 2013, Emma decided to combine her love of art with her passion for writing. Emma has contributed to various art and culture publications, with an aim to promote and share the work of inspiring modern creatives. While she writes every day, she’s also devoted to her own creative outlet—Emma hand-draws illustrations and is currently learning 2D animation.
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