HOUSTON – A bluish-colored streak cut through the Houston sky Thursday morning, keeping shutterbugs busy and others scratching their heads.
Dozens of KPRC2 viewers submitted pictures of the spectacle, asking meteorologists to explain the phenomenon.
The short answer is that it's a shadow.
As the sun rises and sets, its light shines across the terrain and any clouds that are in the sky. That light creates long shadows. Depending on the sun angle, the terrain involved and the height of clouds between the sun and the observer, those shadows can sometimes be cast into the sky.
PHOTOS: Sunrise shadow over Houston
The site is rather common in mountainous areas, where the terrain is much taller. However, in areas where the land is much flatter, like the Texas Gulf Coast, it is less common.
KPRC2 chief meteorologist Frank Billingsley said Thursday's shadow was caused by a tall thunderstorm cloud that was miles away from Houston below the horizon. This blocked the pre-dawn rays of the sun, creating the shadow against an otherwise clear sky.
If you’ve got pictures of the shadow, email them to share@click2houston.com.