Rare Iridescent Cloud Over Indonesia Goes Viral, Stops Traffic

On May 1, 2026, a striking iridescent cloud appeared above Bogor, Indonesia, catching the eye of TikTok user @sipa5402, whose video racked up 57 million views. The Weather Channel described this sighting as a rare phenomenon caused by sunlight refracting through raindrops. In Jonggol, where the cloud was seen, traffic was briefly halted. Some skeptics questioned the video's legitimacy, but it has been confirmed as genuine. Ida Pramuwardani, the Acting Director of Public Meteorology at Indonesia's BKMG, noted that this optical effect involved sunlight interacting with water droplets. She mentioned that the cloud, a towering cumulus, partially hides a rainbow and suggests possible rain but is harmless.