Rare Rainbow Stretching Side to Side Across the Sammamish Sky

A rare and bright splash of color appeared in the sky over Lake Sammamish, and photographer Cessna Kutz was lucky enough to be there at the perfect moment.

She looked up and saw a long, glowing band of colors lying flat across the sky. It looked like a rainbow turned on its side, and her photos of the scene quickly spread across the world.

People rushed to share it because it felt like a small piece of magic at a time when many needed a moment of hope.

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Even though many call it a fire rainbow, it has nothing to do with flames, and it is not a real rainbow. It is a light trick called a circumhorizontal arc.

This happens only when the sun climbs very high above the horizon and shines through thin cirrus clouds. These clouds float high above us and are made of tiny ice crystals that act like little prisms.

When they line up at the right angle, sunlight bends and spreads into a wide band of bright colors that looks almost too perfect to be real.

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Where you live plays a big part in how often you might see one. In the United States, especially in the southern part of the country, these colorful arcs can appear several times each summer.

But in northern places like much of Europe, the sun rarely sits high enough in the sky for this to happen. That is why someone in Los Angeles has a much better chance of seeing one than someone in London.

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On that clear day in Washington, Kutz noticed the colors stretching across the sky like a painted line. She quickly grabbed her camera and captured the whole scene.

Later on Instagram, she shared how the moment made her feel. To her, the bright band of color was a reminder to stay hopeful and choose love even when life feels uncertain.

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Her photos spread across the internet faster than she ever expected. News outlets shared the images, and people from around the world left messages saying how much the colors lifted their spirits.

Kutz said she never thought the pictures would reach so many people. She only wanted to share something beautiful she saw, but instead, it became a global moment of joy.

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Her passion for photography touched thousands, helped her work reach new audiences, and reminded people everywhere that nature can surprise us in the best ways.