Some joked it was an alien invasion. Others were hoping it was “a portal out of this timeline.”
As a large circular halo-style cloud formed near Greater Victoria on Tuesday, social media was flooded with footage and comments, including theories on what it was.
According to Environment Canada meteorologist Doug Lundquist, it was likely an airplane’s condensation trail—or “contrail” for short.
“It was a plane circling probably from Seattle-Tacoma (International Airport) in a holding pattern, creating a contrail. They do that; they’ll make circles. Sometimes they look more like a hockey rink shape,” Lundquist told Victoria Buzz.
“That was a really beautiful sight, just because you can barely see the exit and entrance trail. It worked out really pretty,” he added.
In case you missed it, here’s a look at yesterday’s spectacle:
Contrail. From a jet flying in a circle.
— Ed Wiebe (@edwiebe) April 27, 2022
Check out this cloud over Victoria Harbour #YYJ pic.twitter.com/1F9q8h41qh
— 🌿Fern🌿 (@ItmustbeBunneez) April 27, 2022
Anybody else find this cloud over the Juan de Fuca straight too perfect? #yyj pic.twitter.com/G6cTdNAQJX
— 🍁CapFlu 🇨🇦🇺🇦 (@CapFlu) April 27, 2022
Anyone near #VictoriaBC see this today? Not sure if this is a cloud or skywriting. Any suggestions appreciated. @50ShadesofVan @RyanVoutilainen #YYJ @CityOfVictoria #OakBay pic.twitter.com/4QLthDHi91
— An American in Canada (@RobertBeckMD) April 27, 2022
Cool cloud formation over the inner harbor in #yyj pic.twitter.com/ymdFRfTC3G
— Rachel Hope Cleves (@RachelCleves) April 27, 2022
