Weather Explainers

Here's What A Ring Around The Moon Might Mean For Your Weather

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There’s an old saying that goes like this: “Ring around the moon, rain soon.”

Sometimes snow is part of it, too.

Here’s our mythbuster breakdown on whether the moon can predict the weather.

What Are Moon Halos?

Moon halos, or lunar halos, form when light refracts off of ice crystals in a thin layer of cirrus clouds. They’re sometimes called 22-degree halos because the light is refracting - or bending - at a 22-degree angle.

Moon halos are more likely to appear on a cold, winter night.

The opposite, sun halos or solar halos, appear during the day time.

What’s The Weather Connection?

Cirrus clouds form about 20,000 feet to 40,000 feet above Earth. Their appearance can indicate that a weather system, like a rain or snowstorm, is on the way.

Is The Myth Busted?

In general a moon halo usually means rain or snow ahead, but not always. That’s because there’s no guarantee the moisture in the atmosphere will turn into precipitation every time.

“One thing to look for is whether these thin, wispy cirrus clouds eventually lower and thicken. If so, then snow or rain is probably on the way,” weather.com senior meteorologist Jonathan Erdman said.

If you see a ring around the moon, it’s a good idea to have an umbrella or winter coat handy. And of course it’s never a bad move to keep a close eye on your weather forecast.

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Weather.com staff writer Jan Childs covers breaking news and features related to weather, space, climate change, the environment and everything in between.