23 photos of tonight's spectacular pink sunset in Metro Vancouver

Earlier this evening, Metro Vancouver residents experienced one of the best sunsets of the year. Scores of people took to social media to share their captures of the pink glow as the sun began to disappear in the early winter horizon.

Light cloud cover gave the skies a pink shade, which added to the alpenglow on the North Shore mountains with the thick dusting of white snow appearing bright pink. It is an optical phenomenon that is much more common deeper into the mountain ranges, where mountains are blanketed by snow over long periods.

Here are some photos of tonight’s stunning sunset skies:

Lions gate sunset (3/3) Anybody else check out the cloud hanging out on Grouse today?

A photo posted by Travis Sheaves (@sheavesdisease) on Dec 29, 2015 at 7:10pm PST

Tonight’s weather was a little different from last night but the alpine glow was pretty fantastic. #vancouver #vancitybuzz #vancouverisawesome #canada #alpineglow #huffpostbc A photo posted by LAUREN JOAN TETREAULT (@laurenjoanphotography) on Dec 29, 2015 at 7:09pm PST

Skipping stones under a molten sky … #Vancouver #Sunset #pnw

A video posted by Alexandra S (@movethrough) on Dec 29, 2015 at 4:41pm PST

  Lions gate sunset (2/3) Anybody else check out the cloud hanging out on Grouse today?   A photo posted by Travis Sheaves (@sheavesdisease) on Dec 29, 2015 at 7:08pm PST

Lions gate sunset (1/3) Anybody else check out the cloud hanging out on Grouse today?

A photo posted by Travis Sheaves (@sheavesdisease) on Dec 29, 2015 at 7:05pm PST

  Tonight’s beautiful sunset light show over Yaletown.   A photo posted by Vancouverama (@vancouverama) on Dec 29, 2015 at 6:58pm PST

The fading sunlight on the mountain tops of the Cheam Range in Chilliwack, BC. Shot taken from Sumas Prairie in Abbotsford, BC. #discovervancouver #beautifulbc #best_skyshots #explorebc @hellobc #imagesofcanada #enjoycanada #tourcanada #ilovebc #inspiring_photography_admired #oh_canada_ #sunset #swonearth #hellobc #jaw_dropping_shots #ctvvancouver #valleybuzz #vancitybuzz #vancityhype #vancouverlife #nature_perfection #mtcheam #exploreabbotsford @tourismabbotsford #amazingphotohunter @amazingphotohunter @tourismchilliwack #sharechilliwack #sunset_madness #sunsetlovers #alpenglow

A photo posted by @onlyhdr on Dec 29, 2015 at 6:38pm PST

  Down by the Bay #Vancouver #beautifulbc #beachlife #landscape #clouds #dusk #Canada #vancitybuzz #viawesome #604 #ilovethiscity #whywelivehere   A photo posted by trishp97 (@trishp97) on Dec 29, 2015 at 6:34pm PST

A sea of lights seen from Burnaby Mountain Park with this great view of downtown Vancouver just after sunset today #MustBeVancouver #ExploreBC #VeryVancouver #photos604 #ilovebc #explorecanada #vancitybuzz #604now #vancouverisawesome #ilovevancouver #pacificnorthwest #tourcanada #igcanada_ #burnabynow #burnabytourism #burnabymountain #GeorgiaStraight #discover_pnw #IGS_CAN #VancouverCanada #inVCM #vancouver_canada #discovervancouver #narcityvancouver #cityofvancouver #vancityhype #vancouverofficial

A photo posted by Ann (@annbadjura) on Dec 29, 2015 at 8:45pm PST

Joining in with rest of today’s sunset spam. A photo posted by Marina NBN (@lostincreamtea) on Dec 29, 2015 at 6:33pm PST

Pretty sunset tonight but the could were blocking the snow capped mountains. #vancouver #veryvancouver #vancitybuzz #canada #vancouverisawesome   A photo posted by LAUREN JOAN TETREAULT (@laurenjoanphotography) on Dec 29, 2015 at 6:16pm PST

She’s on fire! #grousemountain #sunset A photo posted by Daph (@peaches_152) on Dec 29, 2015 at 5:45pm PST

What a sunset tonight! The colours are absolutely untouched in this photo. We just had to pull over and luckily had the camera with us A photo posted by Karina & Amir (@vanexusphotography) on Dec 29, 2015 at 5:03pm PST

4:11pm #vancouver #sunset #vscocam #vancitybuzz A photo posted by shahriarerfanian (@shahriarerfanian) on Dec 29, 2015 at 5:03pm PST

Days like this !!#vancouver #Vancity #canada #iloveithere#photooftheday #amazing #instalike #igers #picoftheday #instadaily #ig_captures #followme #iphoneonly #instagood #bestoftheday #all_shots #follow #webstagram #vancitybuzz #totescanadian #beautiful   A photo posted by Darren Cullen (@dmuns74) on Dec 29, 2015 at 5:00pm PST

A photo posted by Stephanie Hahlen (@stephaniehahlen) on Dec 29, 2015 at 4:50pm PST

Beautiful fire in the sky sunset tonight. #LookingOutMyBackDoor #DeltaBC #sunset #SunsetsOfInstagram #EndOfTheDay #dusk #clouds #InstaClouds #FireInTheSky #BeautifulBC #LookWest #Vancouver #VanCity #604now #VanCityBuzz #VIAwesome #YVRLife #YVR #photos604 #604photos #WinterSun #WinterSunset   A photo posted by My Wet Coast Life (@wetcoastlife) on Dec 29, 2015 at 4:49pm PST

Won’t you turn my soul into a raging fire! #Nofilter #Chasingsunsets #Burnaby A photo posted by Bon Bahar???????? (@bon.bahar) on Dec 29, 2015 at 4:44pm PST

#canada #vancouver #Vancity #vancitybuzz#sun #sky#sunset A photo posted by Yalin (@yalinz) on Dec 29, 2015 at 4:38pm PST

 

Vancouver is flexin today

 

A photo posted by @vancitysu on Dec 29, 2015 at 4:30pm PST

Amazing Sunset today in Van City A photo posted by Harm Bhullar (@bhullstar) on Dec 29, 2015 at 4:31pm PST

 

Beautiful sunset after an awesome day. #vancouver_canada #YVR #nofilter #vancitybuzz #beautifulbc #vancouver

 

A photo posted by Stephen Taylor (@vancouvercam) on Dec 29, 2015 at 4:17pm PST

Love this City in the Winter #vancitybuzz A photo posted by C.J.W (@chriswalker72) on Dec 29, 2015 at 4:15pm PST