Rare “rainbow clouds” have been spotted in skies above the UK.

A number of people across the country have been treated to views of the colourful nacreous clouds this week.

Lindsay Mackenna took some pictures of the natural phenomenon above Edinburgh on Tuesday night, describing the iridescent clouds as “gorgeous”.

Sky News weather presenter Jo Wheeler explained the clouds are relatively rare due to the very specific conditions needed for them to appear.

The meteorologist said: “The cloud must be thin and contain numerous water droplets or ice crystals of about the same size.

“These iridescent clouds are also known as fire rainbows or rainbow clouds and occur when sunlight diffracts off the water droplets/ice crystals.

“When the drops are more spherical than teardrop shaped, the conditions are right for rainbow clouds to appear.”

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The clouds often appear alongside thunderstorms, mostly in the late afternoon on hot and humid days.

Jo added: “They form on top of fair weather clouds as they bubble upwards, causing the air to expand and cool.

“Occasionally moisture in the air suddenly condenses into tiny droplets – the source of the phenomenon.

“They’re not seen often and even less frequently photographed.”

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