Residents across Northern California enjoyed an eye-catching sky this week as bright pink, purple, orange, and red colors lit up the horizon from San Francisco to Sacramento and all the way to Chico. The rare and beautiful sunset had people across the region taking photos and sharing the moment.
Why Tuesday’s Sunset Looked So Colorful
On Tuesday evening, the sky turned into a colorful painting as a mix of dry air, clear visibility, and the right cloud types came together at the perfect time. Many areas also reported a glowing sunrise on Wednesday, followed by yet another bright sunset.
Clean Air and Clear Skies Made It Possible
Strong, dry winds on Wednesday morning removed fog and pollution across the Bay Area. This created the clearest visibility the region has seen in over a week. Cities including San Francisco, Oakland, Santa Rosa, and San Jose stayed fog-free through the day.
Humidity Dropped Below 20%
With humidity levels expected to fall under 20%, the sky remained crisp and clean. This also meant the moonrise at 3:34 p.m. in the west-northwest direction was likely to be visible without any obstruction.
Another Beautiful Sunset Expected
Weather experts said conditions were perfect for another colorful sunset on Wednesday at 4:51 p.m.
High-Altitude Winds Added More Beauty
Winds at about 30,000 feet were blowing north to south at over 100 mph. These strong winds move icy cirrus clouds across the sky. Cirrus clouds are thin and high — they easily reflect sunlight and help turn the sky bright pink, red, and gold. Low clouds do the opposite and make sunsets dull.
Great Photography Conditions Ahead
More scattered cirrus clouds were expected on Thursday, giving photographers another chance to capture stunning golden hour images.
Supermoon to Add Even More Glow
The supermoon will be at its fullest on Thursday and Friday. Here are the moon timings for San Francisco:
Thursday
- Moonset: 7:05 a.m. (northwest horizon)
- Moonrise: 4:26 p.m. (northeast horizon)
Friday
- Moonset: 8:20 a.m.
- Moonrise: 5:30 p.m.
Fog Expected to Return in Some Areas
Patchy fog may return to parts of the Sacramento Valley on Thursday morning, especially on the west side. The Bay Area should remain mostly clear, except around the delta region. Visibility could drop from Redding to Benicia and along Interstate 5.
Why Sunset Times Are So Early Right Now
Sunsets are at their earliest point of the year — nearly three weeks before the winter solstice. This happens because of Earth’s tilted axis and its oval-shaped orbit around the sun.
Conclusion
Northern California residents have enjoyed a rare streak of bright and colorful skies thanks to clear air, dry conditions, and high cirrus clouds. With similar weather expected through Thursday, people across the state have another chance to witness and photograph a stunning sunset — and even pair it with a glowing supermoon.
