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Photos: Dazzling DC sunsets of 2016

Dave Dildine | ddildine@wtop.com

December 21, 2016, 3:58 PM

The first sunset of 2016 on the evening of January 1 was stunning and set the pace for a year full of surprises in the skies above Washington. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
The first sunset of 2016 on the evening of Jan. 1 was a stunner and set the pace for a year full of surprises in the skies above D.C. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
WTOP/Dave Dildine
Summer's final sunset was a stunner. This photo was taken on Wednesday from West Potomac Park facing Arlington. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
A brilliant display of oranges and reds illuminated high clouds on one of the final days of summer. This photo was taken on Wednesday, Sept. 21 from West Potomac Park facing Arlington. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
WTOP/Dave Dildine
Tropical Storm Hermine passed off the coast late in the season, and while it didn't really soak us, we got at least one spectacular sunset. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Tropical Storm Hermine didn’t produce much rain or wind in the D.C. region, but the cyclone’s cirrus clouds did produce a series of dramatic sunsets in early September. This photo was taken from the Outlet Bridge at the Tidal Basin on Sept. 2, 2016. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
WTOP/Dave Dildine
Hermine travels by the Virginia coast as a post-tropical cyclone Saturday evening. Near D.C., the sunset lights the sky with one last burst of color before slipping below the horizon. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Hermine sidled by the Virginia coast as a post-tropical cyclone in early September. As the storm made its exit, its high clouds veiled D.C. and brought to life a vibrant sunset on Saturday, Sept. 3. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
WTOP/Dave Dildine
An active day of severe weather concluded with a dark, towering thunderstorm juxtaposed against a golden sunset on June 21, 2016. The thunderhead and its anvil were backlit by the sun's rays and lightning flickered near its core. High winds and a confirmed tornado raked through central Maryland earlier in the afternoon. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
An active day of severe weather concluded with a dark, towering thunderstorm juxtaposed against a golden sunset on June 21, 2016. The enormous thunderhead above West Virginia and its anvil could be seen throughout the region; its features were back lit by the sun’s rays. High winds and a confirmed tornado tore through central Maryland earlier in the afternoon. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
WTOP/Dave Dildine
The first sunset following the Blizzard of 2016 was highlighted by patches of auto-cumulus clouds. What made this sunset more unique, however, was the lack of contrails. Most flights at Dulles International and Reagan National airports remained grounded through the end of the weekend. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
The first sunset following the blizzard of 2016 was highlighted by patches of auto-cumulus clouds. What made this sunset more unique, however, was the lack of contrails. Most flights at Dulles International and Reagan National airports remained grounded through the end of the weekend. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
WTOP/Dave Dildine
With the snow from the Blizzard still melting, Washington was treated to a spectacular sunset on February 7, 2016. A tall building in Tysons, Va. casted its shadow on the high overcast about. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
With the snow from the blizzard of 2016 still melting, D.C. was treated to a spectacular sunset Feb. 7, 2016. A tall building in Tysons, Virginia, cast a slender shadow on the high overcast about 30 minutes after sunset. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
WTOP/Dave Dildine
An arctic cold front blew through the region just before sunset on January 12, 2016. Wispy streaks of snow flurries swept across the skies above the Blue Ridge Mountains behind the front. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
An arctic cold front blew through the region just before sunset on Jan. 12, 2016. Wispy streaks of snow flurries swept across the skies above the Blue Ridge Mountains behind the front. Winds gusted over 40 mph as light faded. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
WTOP/Dave Dildine
Trying to even the ratio of #sunset to #rainbow pics in #DCWX this evening. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
A summer thunderstorm drenched D.C. during the afternoon of July 16, 2016. The storm lumbered away from the city in the hour before sunset, but pink and magenta alto-cumulus clouds trailed behind the storm, mottling the western sky.  (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
WTOP/Dave Dildine
Summer gave way to autumn on Thursday shortly before noon. The sun sets in the due west on the Equinox. From East Capitol Street, the sun appeared to set directly behind the Capitol dome. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Summer gave way to autumn on Thursday, September 22. The sun sets in the due west on the Equinox. From East Capitol Street, the sun appeared to set directly behind the Capitol dome. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
WTOP/Dave Dildine
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The first sunset of 2016 on the evening of January 1 was stunning and set the pace for a year full of surprises in the skies above Washington. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Summer's final sunset was a stunner. This photo was taken on Wednesday from West Potomac Park facing Arlington. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Tropical Storm Hermine passed off the coast late in the season, and while it didn't really soak us, we got at least one spectacular sunset. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Hermine travels by the Virginia coast as a post-tropical cyclone Saturday evening. Near D.C., the sunset lights the sky with one last burst of color before slipping below the horizon. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
An active day of severe weather concluded with a dark, towering thunderstorm juxtaposed against a golden sunset on June 21, 2016. The thunderhead and its anvil were backlit by the sun's rays and lightning flickered near its core. High winds and a confirmed tornado raked through central Maryland earlier in the afternoon. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
The first sunset following the Blizzard of 2016 was highlighted by patches of auto-cumulus clouds. What made this sunset more unique, however, was the lack of contrails. Most flights at Dulles International and Reagan National airports remained grounded through the end of the weekend. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
With the snow from the Blizzard still melting, Washington was treated to a spectacular sunset on February 7, 2016. A tall building in Tysons, Va. casted its shadow on the high overcast about. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
An arctic cold front blew through the region just before sunset on January 12, 2016. Wispy streaks of snow flurries swept across the skies above the Blue Ridge Mountains behind the front. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Trying to even the ratio of #sunset to #rainbow pics in #DCWX this evening. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Summer gave way to autumn on Thursday shortly before noon. The sun sets in the due west on the Equinox. From East Capitol Street, the sun appeared to set directly behind the Capitol dome. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)

WASHINGTON — This year featured some stunning sunsets over the D.C.-area skies.

A few of D.C’s gloomiest days drew to a close in spectacular fashion, with bursts of fiery orange and deep magenta painted on the underbelly of high clouds.  See photos in the gallery above.

Dave Dildine

A native to the Washington area, Dave Dildine is no stranger to the region's complex traffic and weather patterns. Dave joined WTOP in 2010 when the station launched its very own in-house traffic service. You can hear him "on the 8s and when it breaks" from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays.

ddildine@wtop.com

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