Is this the most beautiful sunset ever captured on camera? Timelapse footage shows an ultra-rare cloud formation bathed in a rainbow of colour

  • Mike Olbinski stopped to capture the otherworldly scene on June 2 while driving through North Dakota
  • He created a timelapse video to show the sunset's magnificent movement in all of its glory 
  • To date the footage has been watched more than 94,000 times, with many viewers deeming it 'amazing'

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Firing up the dying day's sky with a blaze of golds, pinks and purples, this sunset will mesmerise you with its rippling rainbow of colour.

Stormchaser Mike Olbinski stopped to capture the otherworldly scene on June 2 while he was driving through North Dakota - and later described them as one of the most incredible scenes he'd ever witnessed.

He created a timelapse video that shows the sunset's magnificent movement in all its glory. The cameraman highlights that no colour editing took place and the pigments in the sped-up footage are exactly what he saw.

Natural wonder: Firing up the day's sky with a blaze of golds, pinks and purples, this sunset is set to mesmerise you with its rippling rainbow of colour. Stormchaser Mike Olbinski stopped to capture the otherworldly scene on June 2 while he was driving through North Dakota

Natural wonder: Firing up the day's sky with a blaze of golds, pinks and purples, this sunset is set to mesmerise you with its rippling rainbow of colour. Stormchaser Mike Olbinski stopped to capture the otherworldly scene on June 2 while he was driving through North Dakota

The sky starts out a deep lilac colour, with large clouds rolling in to create a stormy feel.

Pink then permeates the picture, with a bright ocean of gold seeping in. 

The colours then switch back and forth until a heavy purple hue signals the approach of darkness.

Olbinski witnessed what is known as an asperitas formation, a cloud officially recognised recently by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) as a new type.

The condensed swathes of water vapour, which are extremely rare, resemble rippling ocean waves in the sky.

Olbinski called the encounter 'one of the most incredible scenes' he's ever witnessed during the past eight years he's been chasing storms and extreme weather.

Recalling the spectacular light show, he said: 'Watching [the asperitas formation] was amazing already, but then the sun slowly appeared from behind some clouds to the west and lit up our storm like nothing we’ve ever seen before. 

Pretty in pink: Olbinski created a timelapse video showing the sunset's magnificent movement in all its glory. The cameraman highlights that no colour editing took place and the pigments in the sped-up footage are exactly what he saw

Pretty in pink: Olbinski created a timelapse video showing the sunset's magnificent movement in all its glory. The cameraman highlights that no colour editing took place and the pigments in the sped-up footage are exactly what he saw

Rare encounter: Olbinski witnessed what is known as an asperitas formation, a new type of cloud highlighted by World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The condensed swaths of water vapour, which are extremely rare, resemble rippling ocean waves in the sky

Rare encounter: Olbinski witnessed what is known as an asperitas formation, a new type of cloud highlighted by World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The condensed swaths of water vapour, which are extremely rare, resemble rippling ocean waves in the sky

Dramatic display: Olbinski called the encounter 'one of the most incredible scenes' he's witnessed during the past eight years he's been chasing storms and extreme weather

Dramatic display: Olbinski called the encounter 'one of the most incredible scenes' he's witnessed during the past eight years he's been chasing storms and extreme weather

'We were like kids in a candy store. Running around, doing our best to capture it from every possible angle.'  

Olbinski, from Phoenix, Arizona, spends almost all of his free time photographing extreme weather formations and he often travels hundreds of miles in a black truck to remote areas of states such as Kansas, Colorado, Oklahoma, Texas and California to find them, sometimes risking his life.

During the summer, he is often joined by his three children as he hunts down and captures amazing footage of thunderstorms and lightning bolts in his home state - as well as less terrifying scenes, such as the evening sunset he witnessed this month. 

Olbinski says he feels 'so lucky' to be able to create unforgettable memories of storm chasing for himself and his offspring.

'Someday I'll have to put a book together of photos of the kids while out chasing,' he writes on Facebook. 

On the road again: Olbinski, from Phoenix, Arizona, spends almost all of his free time photographing extreme weather formations

On the road again: Olbinski, from Phoenix, Arizona, spends almost all of his free time photographing extreme weather formations

A family affair: During the summer, he is often joined by his three children as he hunts down and captures amazing footage of thunderstorms and lightning bolts in his home state

A family affair: During the summer, he is often joined by his three children as he hunts down and captures amazing footage of thunderstorms and lightning bolts in his home state

'I'm so lucky to have memories like this for the rest of my life.'

Despite the spectacular sights, Olbinski says he never gets too caught up in the moment to realise the risks storm chasing can pose.

He does not take his children on the most dangerous outings - and always takes precautions to ensure his and others' safety.

'There are a lot of dangers, there's tornadoes, there's really strong winds, there's huge hail that can damage your car,' he says.     

To date his timelapse of the incredible sunset has been watched more than 94,000 times. Many viewers have deemed it an 'amazing' and 'breathtaking' piece of footage.

One fan wrote: 'It looks as if someone's adding colours on a wet watercolor canvas. So incredibly beautiful.'