Residents in West Texas noticed mysterious glowing red lights in the skies over Midland Tuesday night.

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People started calling into news stations reporting the unusual occurrence.

Turns out the odd lights were an unusual weather phenomenon.

Light from gas flares in the area refracted off ice crystals in the clouds causing the weird red lights, according to the National Weather Service in Midland.

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Ceudy Gutierrez reads a book to her 2-year-old son, Matias, at their home in Buford, GA, on Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025. Ceudy Gutierrez is struggling to make ends meet for herself and her three young kids following her husband’s ICE arrest earlier this fall. (Miguel Martinez/ AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez