As we approach summer and the sun is coming out you may notice a ring, or halo, around the sun. This unusual sight is caused by cirrus clouds.  

Those thin cirrus clouds are around 20,000 feet or higher above us. They are made of tiny, ice crystals. Sunlight through the ice crystals causes the light to split, or be refracted. When at just the right angle, it causes us to see the halo.

The same thin clouds can cause a ring, or halo, around the moon at night.

Weather folklore says a ring around the sun or moon means it will rain soon. While that is not always the case, it often is actually true.  Cirrus clouds typically move into an area well ahead of a storm system that may cause rain in the next day or so.