Brits woke up to a surprising sight this morning - a blue sun. Many took to social media to share photos of the strange phenomenon, while others were left puzzled and wondering about the cause behind the "eerie" blue hue.

Wildfire Smoke and Storm Agnes

ITV's weather presenter and meteorologist Chris Page explained on X (formerly Twitter) that the blue sun was a result of wildfire smoke being carried across the Atlantic from North America due to Storm Agnes. The storm, which is the first named storm of the autumn and winter season in the UK and Ireland, brought with it smoke predominantly from Canadian wildfires.

Colour Shifts and Wavelengths

Dan Harris, the deputy chief forecaster at the Met Office, further clarified that the combination of smoke and high cloud in the atmosphere can scatter sunlight, creating unusual colour shifts. Each visible colour has a different wavelength, with longer wavelengths producing oranges and reds. Shorter wavelengths, such as those blocked by dust and smoke particles, create the color blue. This is why the sun appeared with an icy tinge earlier today.

While the blue sun may have been an eerie sight, it was merely a natural occurrence caused by the smoke from wildfires and the scattering of sunlight. Brits can expect the sun to return to its usual color soon.