When it comes to sea of clouds, most people typically associate this breathtaking phenomenon with high mountainous regions. Think of the famous cloud seas at Taishan and Huangshan in mainland China, or the stunning views from Yanzui Mountain and Jinlong Mountain in Taiwan. However, there’s a lesser-known spot in Southern California where you can witness a captivating sea of clouds accompanied by a blazing sunset.
Recently, many Chinese visitors have been flocking to Rancho Palos Verdes in Southern California, eager to experience this natural spectacle. One of the most popular viewing spots is Fred Hesse Jr. Community Park, nestled near the coast. Although the park isn’t large, its scenic layout, complete with shaded trees, offers several vantage points. Among them, a particular green area faces the ocean and the sunset, providing an excellent view for enjoying the cloud sea.
On the afternoon of October 11, around 6 PM, a reporter arrived at Fred Hesse Jr. Community Park, and the experience did not disappoint. After a brief three or four-minute walk from the parking lot, the expansive green field overlooking the ocean came into view, revealing a vast sea of clouds in the distance. At approximately 6 PM, the sun hung low over the ocean, resembling a burning egg yolk. The clouds around the sunset were illuminated in vibrant shades of orange and red, while the thick sea of clouds obscured the ocean below, creating an ethereal atmosphere akin to another ocean.
To the left of the sunset, Catalina Island was clearly visible against the deep blue sky, presenting a sharp silhouette that resembled a beautiful woman’s brow—a scene reminiscent of the poetic line, “Her brows like distant mountains shaded in indigo.” Above the distant mountains, the deep blue sky bore a few wispy clouds and the white trails of planes soaring by, resembling ribbons in the air, adding beauty without overshadowing the magnificence of the cloud sea. As the clock neared 7 PM, the sun finally dipped below the horizon, while the colors in the sky intensified into deep reds and purples, as the clouds seemed to exert their last bit of energy in a dazzling display.
That day, the park welcomed a considerable number of visitors, many of whom were from the Chinese community. Fred Hesse Jr. Community Park isn’t the easiest destination for those in the Chinese neighborhoods, requiring at least a 1.5-hour drive during Friday’s rush hour.
What accounts for this unique sea of clouds over the ocean? According to online sources, the phenomenon occurs when moisture from the sea evaporates and then condenses into tiny water droplets in cooler temperatures, forming clouds. This stunning spectacle doesn’t happen every day—certain weather conditions must align, particularly a significant temperature difference between day and night along with high humidity levels. The warm daytime temperatures lead to considerable evaporation, followed by cooler afternoon temperatures that allow the water vapor to condense into clouds. This natural occurrence is most prevalent during the transitional weather of late summer and early autumn in Southern California.