Calin Cohan captured images of the identical location in West Kelowna, B.C., just ten minutes apart on a Wednesday morning, showcasing the noticeable changes within that brief timeframe.
In a mesmerizing spectacle, residents of British Columbia's Okanagan Valley were treated to an unusual natural display as their surroundings were briefly cloaked in shades of pink and purple during the early morning hours. Kelowna, a city within the valley, witnessed a pink-hued fog that graced the area for several minutes shortly after 7:30 a.m. PT before returning to the more conventional grey.
Lise Guyot, a resident, was captivated by the unexpected transformation outside her window. "I thought, 'OK, what's going on out there?'" she exclaimed, describing the surreal experience that led her to promptly capture the phenomenon through her camera lens. The unique occurrence wasn't confined to Kelowna; approximately 60 kilometres south in Penticton, the fog initially took on a purple hue around 7:15 a.m. before transitioning to pink and later to blue, as reported by resident Dana Coates, who managed to photograph the colourful sky over Okanagan Lake.
Similar reports surfaced from neighbouring communities like Summerland, indicating that this extraordinary event had a broader geographical reach. Guyot, emphasizing the authenticity of her photos, asserted that the captured images faithfully portrayed the pink fog without any enhancement. While she was accustomed to witnessing pink skies during sunrises and sunsets, being enveloped in a pink fog presented an entirely different and memorable experience. The event lasted between 10 and 15 minutes for Guyot, during which the pink fog rose into the sky, descended around her, and eventually dissipated into the more conventional grey.
Providing insight into the rare occurrence, CBC science specialist Darius Mahdavi explained that pink fog, although uncommon, shares its origin with the phenomenon observed during sunrise or sunset. The colour transformation is attributed to the scattering of sunlight as it passes through multiple atmospheric layers or, in this case, suspended water droplets constituting the fog. Blues are scattered out, allowing reds, oranges, and pinks to dominate the visual spectrum. Mahdavi emphasized the rarity of these conditions and the difficulty in predicting such events, emphasizing the need to be in the right place at the right time.
Expressing his awe, Mahdavi noted the incredible sight and admitted envy, stating, "You can also quote me as saying that it's an incredible sight, and I'm very jealous. 'Cause I am." Guyot, drawing from her father's photography wisdom, highlighted the fleeting nature of such moments, emphasizing the significance of promptly capturing these occurrences before they vanish. "It's just that moment: Sometimes you get lucky," she remarked.
