© Sam GangwerSunset over Huntington Beach pier Thursday.
Sunsets are bursting lately with dazzling colors, shapes and textures, and we asked an expert: Why?
The answer has mainly to do with high clouds, said meteorologist Jamie Moker of the National Weather Service.
"The way the light reflects and refracts through the clouds causes it to basically make those brighter colors," Moker said. "The sunsets lately have had a lot of mid and upper-level clouds. Those clouds seem to refract light."
And while pollution can sometimes enhance sunsets, in this case it's a lack of pollution that is doing the job, he said.
Light passing through low clouds also passes through a lot of fine particles. Higher clouds are largely free of it, allowing colors to look more vivid.
"It's not dulled out by pollution - particulates in the lower atmosphere," Moker said.
© Toan Do, Robinson Ranch.Sunset Thursday over Robinson Ranch.
The higher clouds are also rich in ice crystals, where the virga starts.
"When virga initially falls, it is frozen, like snowflakes," Moker said. "Up where you see the rain shafts coming down, the top part is frozen."
© Catherine Marra, Dana Point.Sunset over Dana Point Thursday.
Readers have sent many in recent days, some included here.
Aside from a mostly sunny Saturday afternoon, the week ahead looks partly cloudy, the Weather Service says - except for Sunday, which should be mostly cloudy.
Patchy drizzle is also possible Saturday night and Sunday morning.
Highs should be 53 to 58 Saturday, 52 to 57 Sunday, 58 to 63 Monday, 60 to 65 Tuesday and Wednesday, 62 to 67 inland and 61 near the coast Thursday, and 58 to 63 Friday.
© Sheri Romano, Fountain Valley.Sunset over Huntington Beach Thursday.
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