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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Cooling towers for Units 4 and 3 are seen at Plant Vogtle, operated by Georgia Power Co., in east Georgia's Burke County near Waynesboro, on Wednesday, May 29, 2024. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Credit: Arvin Temkar/AJC