Missile launch over Southern California explained

A trail lit up the western skies across Southern California on Monday evening and many speculate a missile was launched from behind Catalina Island. However, Southern California’s top meteorologist Kevin Martin from the Southern California Weather Authority states it was nothing but a contrail from an airliner.

“We see this often when the flights come at the right time, however some people are just out to witness it at the right time”, says Martin. “We had strong winds up there as well as really cold temperatures from a passing storm system. This also had an area of upper level moisture at 250 to 200mb, where airliners fly”.

Martin described the event as too slow for a missile launch.