Extreme Cold Causing Strange Phenomenon In The Sky

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – If you were up early, you may have noticed that the smoke coming from your neighbor's chimneys looked a little different this morning.

A viewer sent us a time-lapse video of their neighbor's house in Zelienople.

You can see the smoke rising from the chimney, but then it seems to pool above the home and stay there.

It happens because smoke and steam cook quickly as they rise.

They become heavier and flatten out in the atmosphere, especially when there's no wind and it's this cold.

You also may have noticed another phenomenon this morning: beams of light shooting into the air.

They're called "light pillars" and they form when light is reflected off of cold, icy air.

KDKA's Dennis Bowman reports that just before 7 a.m., the temperature at the Pittsburgh Airport was 10 below zero, which would be a new record low.

Join The Conversation On The KDKA Facebook Page
Stay Up To Date, Follow KDKA On Twitter