Arkansas Residents Catch a Rare Phenomenon Known as a Fogbow

If you were heading to work on Monday morning in parts of Arkansas, you may have noticed something in the dense fog that looked very strange, almost mystical.

The Rare Natural Phenomenon of Seeing a Fogbow

Did you notice a fogbow, a rare natural phenomenon that looks similar to a rainbow but has a more ghostly appearance? In fact, some people call it a ghost rainbow, or mistbow, or whitebow.

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Arkansas Residents Hannah Conner and Davis Ragsdale See Fogbow

According to KARK-TV, the fogbow was seen by residents living in the Argenta area of Little Rock and in Garland County.

How is a Fogbow Formed in the Atmosphere?

The rarity of a fogbow is due to tiny water droplets and sunlight, just like a rainbow. The difference is that the fogbow appears on the opposite side of the sun when the sunlight reflects off tiny water droplets inside the fog. The result is an arch-shaped atmospheric phenomenon.

READ MORE: Lookout For a Rare Occurrence of a Yellow Cardinal in Arkansas

The tiny droplets of water are much smaller than a raindrop, so the sunlight doesn't scatter them very well, which is why you get a ghostly effect instead of a colorful rainbow. Fogbows are often bigger than a rainbow and can sometimes be surrounded by red and blue around the edges.

When and Where Are You Most Likely to See a Fogbow?

Fogbows are typically more likely to be seen in the early morning or early evening when the sun is at a lower angle. Other places where you may be able to see a fogbow are mountaintops or while flying on a plane.