Best Barnegat Bay Sunset Ever? You Be The Judge (Also, Heavy Surf Warnings)

This one might just be one of the best sunsets we’ve ever captured. Just two hours before the autumn equinox (the change of seasons occurred at 9:04 p.m. Thursday night, by the way) the summer of 2022 gave us one last memory – by going out with a bang.

Clouds had been exiting the Shore area all day, leading us to capture a bit in our travels Thursday afternoon in Seaside Park. An impromptu “last night of summer” boat ride was meant to be a quick outing, but ultimately merited a lengthy stay on the water to appreciate the views. The sun’s rays poked their way through the exiting cold front and diffused through the multiple layers of clouds to produce everything from a pink “rainbow” of sorts over the ocean, and a stunning spectacle of colors over Barnegat Bay and the Metedeconk River.

Let us know what you think in the comments!

---

Get Daily Island News Updates Your email address:* Please enter all required fields Correct invalid entries

As for fall, well, it’s here. Some may love it, we admittedly don’t, but cooler weather is certainly upon us, according to the National Weather Service.

The mouth of the Metedeconk River on Barnegat Bay, Sept. 22, 2022. (Photo: Daniel Nee)

Friday will be sunny with a high of 64 degrees, the NWS forecast said, and it will also be windy. Northwest wind will move 10 to 15 m.p.h., with gusts as high as 25 m.p.h. The overnight low between Friday and Saturday will dip down to a very-chilly 44 degrees before recovering to a high of 71 on Saturday with sunny skies and lighter winds.

Sunday’s high will be 78 degrees, with a slight chance of showers after 2 p.m. It will otherwise be partly sunny.

A Small Craft Advisory remains in effect for Ocean County waters north of Little Egg Inlet.

“Seas will build to around 7 to 10 feet on Friday, and this combined with breezy offshore winds around 25 mph will result in breaking waves in the surf zone around 5 to 8 feet,” the NWS marine forecast stated. “The surf zone will be very hazardous on Friday with a very HIGH risk of rip currents amid the large breaking waves. Entering the surf will be discouraged. Localized beach erosion is possible.”

Winds and seas diminish on Saturday, and Hurricane Fiona will continue to lift away from the nearby waters, though seas will continue to be somewhat rough and rip currents will remain moderate to high.