![](https://earthsky.org/upl/2017/10/red-sun-10-16-2017-colin-cradock.jpeg)
The BBC is reporting – and Twitter is buzzing – about a red sun and eerie sky seen in many parts of the United Kingdom today (October 16, 2017). The BBC said its weather presenter Simon King explained
… it was due to the remnants of Hurricane Ophelia dragging in tropical air and dust from the Sahara.
He added that debris from forest fires in Portugal and Spain was also playing a part.
The dust has caused light to be refracted and reflected in longer wavelengths, making it appear red.
![](https://earthsky.org/upl/2017/10/sun-red-10-16-2017-Mark_McNeill_photogrpahy-Northwest-England-e1508162119218.jpg)
More #Ophelia #redsun pictures sent in by our followers, thanks for sharing. Keep them coming, you can upload them on our website & app too pic.twitter.com/JMqvMcefAD
— Weather Network UK (@TheWeatherNetUK) October 16, 2017
![](https://earthsky.org/upl/2017/10/sun-red-10-16-2017-Emma-Bridson-Birmingham-England-e1508161908247.jpg)
The #RedSun phenomenon currently seen across England has been caused by Hurricane Ophelia, experts say https://t.co/VJdomLDWsm pic.twitter.com/qgKmKgjrMN
— BBC News England (@BBCEngland) October 16, 2017
And there were lots of other comments about the red sun, too. Many mentioned that it looked like the set of the new (and awesome) movie Bladerunner 2049:
I've seen this before… #RedSun #BladeRunner pic.twitter.com/hmx2eFK1DK
— Tom Warwick (@tombmwarwick) October 16, 2017
Just walked to Tescos in London… #RedSun #BladeRunnerpic.twitter.com/4tk6dRH8FP
— ???? (@eaglemoustache) October 16, 2017
Meanwhile in #Middlesbrough… #BladeRunner #redsun pic.twitter.com/S9d6ooOgBf
— Chris Corbett (@pixelscript) October 16, 2017
View from the @VCCP balcony yesterday #RedSun pic.twitter.com/py2eMKY7gC
— Will Harvey ???? (@WilliamEdHarvey) October 17, 2017
Bottom line: Red sun over the UK on Monday, October 16, 2017, caused by dust from the Sahara, raised via Hurricane Ophelia. On Tuesday, apparently, the sun was back to normal.