Unexpected Pink Skies Captivate Birmingham Residents

Football stadium lights create surreal display amidst heavy snowfall

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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Residents of Birmingham, UK, were captivated by a surreal display on the night of January 8-9, 2026, as the sky above the city transformed into a vibrant shade of pink. The unusual phenomenon, occurring amidst heavy snowfall from Storm Goretti, was caused by the LED lights illuminating the pitch at Birmingham City's St Andrew's football stadium. The low cloud cover and falling snow played a crucial role in amplifying the effect, creating a more reflective sky that allowed the pink light from the stadium to become visible across a wider area.

Why it matters

The incident highlights how seemingly mundane sources, like sports stadium lighting, can create extraordinary visual effects under specific atmospheric conditions. While initially prompting speculation about more dramatic causes, the explanation provided by Birmingham City FC and meteorological experts offered a down-to-earth, yet fascinating, explanation for the stunning display.

The details

According to BBC weather presenter Simon King, the cloud cover and snowfall created a more reflective sky, allowing the pink light from the stadium to become visible across a wider area. The Met Office also weighed in, explaining that the scattering of blue wavelengths of light by snow or water droplets allows longer wavelengths – such as red and orange – to become more prominent, resulting in a pink or orange hue.

  • The unusual phenomenon occurred on the night of January 8-9, 2026.
  • Earlier in the week, residents in Hednesford, Staffordshire, also reported witnessing a similar pink glow, which was attributed to LED pitch lights used 'to help the grass grow and recover.'

The players

Birmingham City FC

The football club whose stadium's LED lights were responsible for the pink sky display.

Simon King

A BBC weather presenter who explained the atmospheric conditions that amplified the effect.

Met Office

The UK's national weather service that provided an explanation for the pink hue in the sky.

Hednesford Town Football Club

A football club in Staffordshire that also experienced a similar pink glow, attributed to their LED pitch lights.

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What they’re saying

“Pink sky at night, Blue delight.”

— Birmingham City FC (Social media)

“Atmospheric conditions with low cloud and even during snow, can make the sky a little more reflective and show a glow of street lighting, buildings and even purple lights from football stadiums.”

— Simon King, BBC weather presenter (BBC)

“The blue wavelengths of light are more easily scattered by snow or water droplets, allowing the longer wavelengths – such as red and orange – to get through. This can have the effect of turning colours more pink or orange.”

— Met Office spokesperson (Met Office)

What’s next

The Met Office and local authorities will continue to monitor the impact of atmospheric conditions on the visibility of sports stadium lighting in the Birmingham area.

The takeaway

This unexpected phenomenon serves as a reminder that the beauty of nature can sometimes be found in the most mundane sources, like sports stadium lighting, when the right atmospheric conditions align. It highlights the importance of understanding the science behind such visual displays and how they can captivate local communities.