Why did the fog turn pink over Britain?

The fog turned pink because sunlight scattering through water droplets in the fog allowed longer red wavelengths to dominate, creating a pink hue.

Is the pink fog a weather hazard in the UK?

No, the pink fog is a purely optical effect and poses no unusual weather hazards beyond normal fog risks like reduced visibility.

How rare is the pink fog phenomenon?

The pink fog phenomenon is considered rare, requiring precise conditions of fog thickness and timing with sunrise or sunset.

Home / Environment / UK's Rare Pink Fog: Science Behind the Spectacle

UK's Rare Pink Fog: Science Behind the Spectacle

17 Dec, 2025

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Summary

Sunlight passing through fog scatters blue light, leaving red hues.
Fog appeared pink due to sunlight filtering through atmosphere at sunrise.
The rare phenomenon requires perfect conditions of fog thickness and timing.

UK's Rare Pink Fog: Science Behind the Spectacle

Skies across Britain were bathed in a soft pink hue on Wednesday morning due to an unusual atmospheric phenomenon. The vibrant colour was caused by sunlight interacting with widespread fog layers, a rare sight that surprised many.

The Met Office explained that fog, essentially a ground-level cloud, is composed of tiny water droplets. When the sun is low on the horizon, its light travels through more atmosphere. This process scatters shorter blue and green light wavelengths, allowing the longer red wavelengths to dominate. When this filtered light passes through the fog, it imparts a pink or rosy tint.

Experts noted that this 'pink fog' is purely an optical effect, with no additional hazards beyond typical fog-related visibility issues. Such an event requires very specific conditions: the fog must coincide precisely with sunrise, and its thickness and droplet characteristics must be just right to mute the sunrise colours into a distinct pink glow.