By Tim Binnall
A mesmerizing video captured by a tourist in Florida shows a rare and rather wondrous weather phenomenon, known as a crown flash, wherein a peculiar beam of light appears moving among the clouds in the sky. The very strange scene was reportedly filmed by a Birmingham resident who was visiting Miami Beach over the weekend and the footage was subsequently passed along to Idaho meteorologist James Spann. In the video, the puzzling illumination can be seen seemingly scanning the sky from within the clouds in a manner some have likened to a searchlight.
While many observers online were quick to suggest that the beam was alien in nature, Spann explained that it actually has a scientific explanation. "I believe that is a crown flash," he said, "this is caused by ice crystals at the top of the cloud and when lightning happens, the electric field changes." The result of such an occurrence, Spann observed, is that it transforms the ice crystals in a manner such that it creates "this effect of somebody shining a flashlight."