January 12, 2026 | 11:51 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Residents of Birmingham, England were surprised by the neon pink sky on Thursday night, January 8, 2026, as the snowfall covered the West Midlands region. The unusual phenomenon quickly caught the public's attention.
Several residents captured the pink sky and shared it on platforms like X, Reddit, and TikTok. The posts quickly gained thousands of views and sparked various speculations, ranging from the appearance of the aurora borealis to online conspiracy theories.
The Birmingham City Football Club later explained that the pink light originated from the LED lights at St Andrews Stadium. The stadium lights reflected across the sky, creating the illusion of a color shift. The club stated, "Pink sky at night, Blues delight."
According to a report by Firstpost, the combination of low-lying clouds and falling snow made the sky more reflective. In such conditions, bright lights from street lamps, buildings, and football stadiums are easily reflected into the atmosphere.
The local Meteorological Office also explained the phenomenon through the difference in wavelength effects. It was mentioned that the blue light wavelength is easily scattered by snow or water droplets, allowing longer wavelengths such as red and orange to penetrate. Their spokesperson Grahame Madge said, "This can have the effect of turning colours more pink or orange."
Similar sightings were reported in several other areas around Birmingham, including Small Heath, Bordesley Green, and the towns of Hednesford and Cannock. The Hednesford Town Football Club confirmed that the reddish light in their area was also caused by LED field lights, stating that the lights were used to help the grass recover and grow. Their statement read, "Lights helping the grass grow and recover, keeping us ready to chase three points, not the aurora."
Although it sparked wild speculations on social media, the club and official reports have confirmed that the pink sky phenomenon in Birmingham is not a rare natural event, but rather an artificial light reflection under specific weather conditions.
Read: January Night Sky Events: What to Watch and How to See Them
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