Sky-high mystery: Balloon from Arizona drifts over Southwest Florida

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA, (WINK) — What was that floating in the sky on Monday afternoon? The WINK Weather Authority is working to get answers.

Many of you have reached out to us wanting to know just what the large object in the sky was. WINK News reached out to Arizona-based World View, which operates the stratospheric high-altitude balloon.

While it is getting a lot of attention in Southwest Florida, this Monday, WINK News learned that the balloon launched last Tuesday and is heading toward the Atlantic Ocean.

high altitude weather balloon — (Credit: Joseph Waldvogel)

World View is operating the balloon for a customer conducting communications testing over the Atlantic.

The balloon is flying at altitudes between 55,000 and 75,000 feet, which is above commercial airspace.

The company has full remote control of the balloon. Because it navigates using stratospheric winds, the exact direction and timing of its path remain uncertain.

The balloon will continue its trajectory eastward over Florida.

It may return over the area as it makes its way back to Tucson.