Just Why Was Sunday’s Sunset So Spectacular in N.J.?

In case you’re wondering why the sky over New Jersey and New York City looked so spectacular Sunday evening as the sun began its descent, it all came down to perfect timing by broken clouds… A colorful sunset like Sunday’s – with pretty shades of pink blending in with brilliant shades of orange, red and purple – happens from time to time in our region… David Robinson, the state climatologist at Rutgers University, attributed the scenic sunset to an abundance of broken clouds – primarily altostratus clouds, those that form in the middle level of the atmosphere and resemble sheets or layers — in the New Jersey sky Sunday evening.