A rare cloud formation over Agassiz caught the eyes and imagination of locals and visitors on Wednesday (Feb. 26).
Cathy Christiansen took a photo of the skies above Agassiz at about 3 p.m., showcasing a stunning example of a fallstreak hole. According to the National Weather Service (U.S.), a fallstreak hole – or a hole punch cloud – is characterized as a circular or elliptical gap in cirrocumulus or altocumulus cloud formations. High level clouds are composed of water droplets that are colder than 0C yet have not frozen. Planes passing through these clouds can bring ice crystals to these "supercooled" droplets, which causes them to freeze quickly, grow and begin to fall, which creates a visible hole in the cloud. Under the right circumstances – as in Christiansen's photo – rainbows can be seen among the falling ice crystals when the sun's light is refracted through them, creating a spectrum of colourful light.
Because of the very specific conditions needed to form a fallstreak hole, they can be relatively rare. Wednesday's fallstreak hole could be seen throughout Agassiz and at least as far south as Popkum.
