Top 10 Most Unusual Weather Events

These rare, tubular clouds can stretch for thousands of kilometers and are usually associated with severe thunderstorms. They can create rolling waves of cloud that can be surfed by aircraft in certain conditions. The phenomenon was first documented in the 19th century, but it wasn't until the 2000s that scientists fully understood their formation.

This rare and poorly understood atmospheric electrical phenomenon appears as a glowing, floating sphere or rod of light during thunderstorms. It is usually associated with severe lightning storms and can be seen in various parts of the world, including Asia and North America. According to folklore, ball lightning has been described by people since ancient times, but its scientific explanation remains elusive.

Also known as "ice disks," these are rare, flat discs of ice that form on lakes during extremely cold temperatures. They can be several feet in diameter and have been observed in places like Sweden and Finland. The formation of ice disks is still not fully understood, but scientists believe it may be related to the interaction between wind and lake surface conditions.

This optical effect occurs when sunlight passes through water droplets or ice crystals in clouds at a precise angle, creating colors of the rainbow. It can appear as a misty, colorful halo around clouds or as a bright, iridescent ring on the sun. The phenomenon is usually observed near polar regions and during the summer months.

Also known as fire whirls, these rare and intense columns of flame form during wildfires when the heat from the fire creates a rotating updraft of air. They can be several meters wide and are usually associated with extreme fire activity in areas like California and Australia. The formation of fire tornadoes is still not fully understood, but scientists believe it may be related to the interaction between wind and fire conditions.

Also known as 22° halos or glory clouds, these circular formations of light appear around the sun or moon when light passes through ice crystals in the atmosphere at a precise angle. They are usually observed during polar regions and in areas with high humidity. The phenomenon is thought to be caused by the diffraction of sunlight off ice crystals.

Also known as mock suns, these bright spots appear on either side of the sun when sunlight passes through ice crystals in the atmosphere at a precise angle. They can be several times brighter than the actual sun and are usually observed during winter months near polar regions. The phenomenon is thought to be caused by the diffraction of sunlight off ice crystals.

Also known as fairy circles, these bright columns of light appear on either side of poles when light from the sun or moon passes through ice crystals in the atmosphere at a precise angle. They can be several meters wide and are usually observed during winter months near polar regions. The phenomenon is thought to be caused by the diffraction of sunlight off ice crystals.

These rare and temporary columns of steam form when cold air moves over warm water, creating a rotating updraft of steam. They can appear as rolling columns of vapor or as whirlpools in lakes during the summer months. The phenomenon is usually observed in areas with high humidity and frequent temperature changes.

Also known as mesocyclones, these rotating thunderstorms are characterized by their ability to produce large hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes. They can be hundreds of kilometers wide and are usually associated with severe weather events in areas like the Great Plains of North America. The formation of supercells is still not fully understood, but scientists believe it may be related to the interaction between wind and moisture conditions.