Is there such a thing as ‘Snowbows’?

Rainbows are unique optical phenomena in the atmosphere that form when the sun’s light gets refracted through tiny liquid drops of water in the atmosphere. The formation that you speak of occurs in cold weather with air temperatures below 32 degrees, especially in the upper atmosphere.

When you see ‘Rainbow-like’ formations in the fall, winter, or early spring the formation is actually called a halo. Light gets reflected differently through ice crystals as compared to liquid water. So, ‘Snow-halo’ may be a more accurate term to describe you’re sighting. Sometimes the best ‘Snow-halos’ form when a thin layer of Cirrus clouds are present between the sun and moon and you’re line of sight.