Specialists note that such optical effects occur due to the refraction and reflection of light in ice crystals present in the lower layers of the atmosphere. Cold weather and a high concentration of ice particles create ideal conditions for the formation of such phenomena.
Unusual atmospheric phenomena were also recorded in Alaska. On January 16, 2026, a video appeared on social media showing four bright disks resembling suns rising simultaneously above the horizon at dawn. Meteorologists explained that this was also parhelia—a halo phenomenon where "false suns" appear on both sides of the Sun.
Similar observations occurred in other northern regions in 2026. In the Sakhalin region, residents witnessed classic parhelia with two light spots on either side of the sun. A few days later, a similar phenomenon was noticed in the city of Genkhe, where the effect manifested against a backdrop of severe frosts and a low sun position.
Experts emphasize that parhelia and other forms of halos are most often observed in northern latitudes when low temperatures and a significant amount of ice crystals in the atmosphere combine.
