Weird and wonderful weather displays in Derbyshire

Derbyshire has been dazzled by a variety of weather phenomena in recent years.

Ice spikes, "snowbows" and the Northern Lights were among the eye-catching natural displays.

From the north of the county all the way down to Swadlincote, we take a look back at some of the best.

Back in January 2024, "snowbows" could be seen in numerous locations across the UK, including Castleton and Tissington.

A snowbow is similar to a rainbow, but forms when light is refracted by snowflakes, rather than water droplets, in the air.

The complex shape of the flakes affects the quality of the refraction, so the colours are typically muted.

Snowbows are rare, usually appearing at sunrise or sunset.

During freezing temperatures in December 2023, stunning ice spikes were spotted across the Peak District.

According to the Met Office, conditions have to be perfect for them to form.

If a hole appears in the ice skin, water gets squeezed up through the hole, which creates the beginning of the spike - and the process continues until the tip of the spike freezes.

In January 2022, Leigh Pugh was hoping to get a picture of the Peak District sunrise when he got the feeling he was being watched.

No, it's not a giant fish eye... it's a bizarre looking puddle that froze on Stanton Moor Edge, near Birchover.

Mr Pugh shared the image on social media, where users said the rock resembled a fish, or even a dragon.

Walkers were able to enjoy breathtaking views of cloud inversions in the Peak District in February 2024.

Also known as temperature inversions, they form in valleys when it's colder nearer the ground than at higher altitudes.

The rare weather phenomenon could be seen at Mam Tor and Lord's Seat.

This natural phenomenon took many by surprise in 2024 when it appeared much further south than usual - including over Derbyshire.

Aurora borealis, also known as the Northern Lights, could be seen clearly in places such as Belper and Ashbourne.

The lights appear when atoms in the high-altitude atmosphere collide with energetic charged particles from the Sun.

Residents in Alvaston, Long Eaton, Sawley and Swadlincote spotted rare "rainbow clouds" in December 2023.

The clouds are some of the highest in the atmosphere and are rarely spotted in the UK because of the exceptional conditions needed.

Jane Roots, of Alvaston, took "loads" of pictures, which she described as "absolutely beautiful".

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