In recent weeks the Meadowlark flew through the outer arms of three hurricanes (Gustav, Hanna, and Ike) even though travel outside of Kansas in recent years has been rare. The cloud layers and cloud variety in these hurricane arms is fascinating.
Yesterday while flying back to Kansas City through the Dallas airport and the arms of Ike, a number of interesting pictures were taken of various cloud formations. However, often pictures do not adequately capture these majestic meteorological views.
The plan leaving Dallas was to be on port side (left) of the plane knowing that sunset was likely to occur somewhere between Dallas and Kansas City. The plan paid off with some great sunset pictures, including a wonderful view of a double rainbow.
Low and dark clouds, and heavy rain greeted visitors to DFW airport last evening since Ike’s path was slightly more than a hundred miles to the east of Dallas. At least in Dallas, most planes were still on schedule in spite of the bad weather.
The fairly quick trip from Dallas to Kansas City was mostly above the clouds. Even though our path was at 41,000 feet, some bands of clouds at a distance appeared to be that altitude, which was a bit unusual. The sun was blindingly bright to the west much of the time.
In the initial descent to KCI airport, we were surrounded by dark clouds and visibility was near 0. I thought there would be no sunset pictures at all, until we suddenly broke below the clouds.
7:26 PM: Finally breaking below the clouds
The sun was almost blinding but the reddish-orange sunset glow was magnificent. Quite by accident I looked out the window showing our forward travel, and was amazed to discover a double rainbow, which appeared to surround the plane.
7:27 PM: The majestic double rainbow
The double rainbow could be seen through the sunset glow. Wikipedia explains
From an aeroplane, one has the opportunity to see the whole circle of the rainbow, with the plane’s shadow in the centre.
I could not see the double rainbow on the starboard (right) side of the plane, but I believe others could.
I talked to the pilot on my way out of the plane and he confirmed he saw the complete double-circle rainbow from his vantage point. I meant to ask how often he had experienced such a circular double-rainbow in flight, but I forgot to ask.
7:31 PM: Sunset
7:37 PM: On the ground
Tags: double rainbow, Hurricane Ike, rainbow
