In the middle of a heat wave, you may come across what appears to be water boiling on a hot road. AccuWeather's Ali Reid explains the science behind this shimmering illusion.

During periods of extreme heat, roads may appear wet due to a phenomenon known as a mirage. This effect occurs when the sun heats the asphalt, causing the road surface to become much hotter than the air above it. As light from the sky passes through layers of air at different temperatures and densities, it bends, creating the illusion of water on the road.

The brain interprets this bent light as a reflection, leading to the shimmering, wavy appearance often mistaken for a puddle. This is a natural optical illusion caused by physics, not by actual moisture on the road. Drivers are advised to be aware of this phenomenon, especially during heatwaves, as it can affect perception while driving.

Why roads appear wet during extreme heat

Well, have you ever been driving on a hot summer day and notice the road looks wet and suddenly it looks like there's a puddle up ahead, almost like the Looney Tunes Mirage in the desert? I was going to say the Rugrats with Chuck E. So that was my thing. Hilarious that we both have a thing. That's probably, Ali's thinking of one of those too. Anyway, that shimmering illusion, it is called a mirage and it's more than just a trick of the eyes. Our Ali Reid is live from Mount Laurel, New Jersey this morning to explain the science behind this heat driven phenomenon. What an intro, Ali, take it away. Good morning, Ari and Jeff, and talk about a perfect morning to tell this story. You guys are mentioning that heat wave for many places across the country. It is hot, hot, hot all over the U.S. and that's going to lead into next week, too. So maybe if you're driving to the park like behind me or maybe the pool, you might potentially see on roadways right near you that shimmering illusion. There's a little bit of physics behind it, too. Take a look at the video. If you don't know what we're talking about, this will explain it just a little bit better for you. It's something that many of you have probably seen dozens of times, especially on days like today and through next week with the sun blazing and the pavement heating up. You think you see water glistening in the distance, but when you get a little bit closer, it's gone. It's not a glitch in your own vision. No, it is physics here. And it all starts with heat rising off the road when the summer sun beats down on asphalt. The road absorbs that heat very fast, making it much hotter than the air above it. As light from the sky travels through these layers, it bends, changing speed as it moves from cooler, dense air into warmer, thinner air. Air travels differently for different densities of air. So when that sun beams down on the pavement and it's very hot, and then that reflection back up into the sky where you have much cooler air, what happens is the air actually bends a bit, the light bends a bit. And what happens is, since it's bending at a shallow angle, the farther away you are from that point where the sun is hitting the ground, you see this mirage appearance where it looks like a wavy structure. Here's the catch, though. Your brain assumes that light travels in a straight line. So instead of seeing it as bent, your brain interprets it as a reflection on the ground. This is why it could look like water. Again, that wavy look is the classic sign of a mirage, an illusion caused entirely by physics, not moisture. So no, your brain is not playing tricks on you, or I guess it can be if you are looking at it on the road. But it's something to keep in mind when you are driving. It can be a safety concern, right? We know those pavements are going to be very hot over this week and next. So A, take care of your children, your pets when you are walking to and from a location, maybe going to a park like this one. But also when you're getting behind the wheel of your car, again, it may look a little wonky on the roads the next couple of weeks as it is so hot. So something to just keep in mind. You're OK, I promise. Your brain may be just playing a few tricks on you. The brain loves to do that. Yeah, that's great stuff. Yeah, very informative there, Ali. Thanks so much.

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