Why the skies turned red over the UK this weekend

Smoke from wildfires across the Atlantic has brought spectacular vivid colours to sunsets and sunrises across the UK this weekend.

Fires have blazed across North America this summer, and smoke particles have been carried by the jet stream to the skies above the British Isles.

The unusual hues should continue until Monday, when more unsettled weather will begin to disperse the smoke in the upper atmosphere.

But skywatchers could also be in for a treat on Monday night, when a rare blue supermoon appears above the UK.

A jet stream is a high altitude current of air that occurs when warmer air from the south meets cooler air from the north, and is responsible for much of the UK’s climate.

This makes the sky look more orange, BBC forecaster Gareth Burleigh-Harvey says, as the smoke particles diffuse the sunlight.

This can lead to more vivid sunsets and sunrises which is what happened over Saturday and Sunday, he says, and will continue until Monday evening.

There is a sepia effect from the red, brown and orange hues which can make for more dramatic views.

Because the smoke is high up, there is no risk to people’s health and the haze is expected to have moved on by Tuesday morning.

The UK skies will play host to a rare lunar phenomenon on Monday night – a blue super moon.

Monday’s full moon is not just a supermoon. It is also a blue moon but those hoping to see a bluish shade to the satellite are out of luck.

A blue moon refers to the third full moon in a season with four full moons, as is the case with this full moon. It can also refer to the second full moon in a month with two full moons.

A supermoon appears brighter and bigger than usual because the Moon’s orbit brings it closer to earth.

The last time the UK witnessed a combined super blue moon was last August – but if you miss it, the next one is reportedly not due until 2037.