Why are winter sunrises so striking with a mix of blue and red? Photo by Lenny “Lensworth” Frieling

Winter sunrises often look shockingly colorful – especially those intense reds glowing against the cold blue of a brightening sky – because several winter-specific conditions line up perfectly to paint the sky more dramatically than at other times of year. That’s all fine, but WHY is it so???

Why winter sunrises explode with color:

Lower sun angle
In winter the sun rises at a much shallower angle. Its light travels through more of the atmosphere before reaching your eyes. The longer the path, the more blue light gets scattered out, leaving behind deeper reds, pinks, and oranges.

Cold, dry air
Cold air holds less moisture. Winter mornings in Colorado especially are crisp and dry. Dry air scatters less light overall, so the remaining colors come through more vividly. Dryness intensifies reds the way a clean window intensifies a view.

The sky shows more blue as the sun rises Photo Lenny “Lensworth” Frieling

Upper-level clouds in the right place
Winter brings more high clouds like cirrus and altostratus. These thin clouds catch the sunlight before the sun appears above the horizon. They act like giant reflective screens, glowing red and orange while the ground is still blue and shadowed. This contrast produces the classic red-on-blue that Boulder sees all winter.

Less haze, less pollution at sunrise
Cold nights suppress ground-level turbulence. Particles settle. With fewer aerosols in the air, the sunrise colors cut through with cleaner edges. The reds don’t get muddied. They stay bold, almost neon.

The reds of the earlier sunrise are striking! Photo Lenny “Lensworth” Frieling

The yellows show before the reds are gone. Photo Lenny “Lensworth” Frieling

Rayleigh scattering and the red-blue contrast:
Blue light scatters first and fastest, so the sky around the sunrise is already turning blue even while the sun itself is still sending only its longest wavelengths—red and orange—over the horizon. That is why you get that dramatic oppositional palette: the canopy going blue while the horizon burns red.

Mountains make it even better
The Rockies delay the actual moment of sunrise, giving the high clouds more time to light up while the ground stays cool-blue. The Flatirons catch these colors perfectly. That’s why Boulder winter dawns so often feel painted.

Shared Knowledge Is Power!

Lenny “Lensworth” Frieling

Lenny Frieling Pen Of Justice

• Multi-published and widely syndicated blogger and author.
• Most recently published by Amazon, his first book, "Lensworth"a book of his prize-winning photos.
• University lectures at University. of Colorado, Boulder, Denver University Law School, Univ. of New Mexico, Las Vegas NM, and many other schools at all levels. Numerous lectures for the NORML Legal Committee
• Former Judge
• Media work, including starring in episodes of Fox’s Power of Attorney, well in excess of many hundreds media interviews, appearances, articles, and podcasts, including co-hosting Time For Hemp for two years.
• Life Member, NORML Legal Committee, Distinguished Counsel Circle.
• Photographer of the Year, AboutBoulder 2023
• First Chair and Originator of the Colorado Bar Association’s Cannabis Law Committee, a National first.
• Previous Chair, Boulder Criminal Defense Bar (8 years)
• Twice chair Executive Counsel, Colorado Bar Association Criminal Law Section
• Life Member, Colorado Criminal Defense Bar
• Board Member Emeritus, Colorado NORML, and prior chair during legalization, as well as pre and post legalization
• Chair, Colorado NORML, 7 years including during the successful effort to legalize recreational pot in Colorado
• Senior Counsel Emeritus to the Boulder Law firm Dolan + Zimmerman LLP : (720)-610-0951
• Board member, Author, and Editor for Criminal Law Articles for the Colorado Lawyer, primary publication of the Colorado Bar Assoc. 7 Years, in addition to having 2 Colorado Lawyer cover photos, and numerous articles for the Colorado Lawyer monthly publication.
• http://www.Lfrieling.com