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Rule Fire Sky

Byron Bay - Fire Sky - Australian Coast

Byron Bay, New South Wales, Australia

Those rare, intensely red and orange sunset skies

Currently

Real-time conditions
Low Cloud Cover76%
Mid Cloud Cover5%
Aerosol Optical Depth0.1dimensionless
Sun Elevation66.7° (Daylight)

Upcoming Opportunities

When all conditions match, PhotoWeather marks an opportunity window.

Times shown in Australia/Sydney
fire-sky weather icon
Next opportunity
Spectacular Fiery Red Sky at Sunset
Byron Bay
Today · 19:00–19:39 · 1h window
High confidence
80%
🔥Fiery Red Sky Potential100%
Low Cloud Cover: 0%
Mid Cloud Cover: 44%
Aerosol Optical Depth: 0.1dimensionless
Sun Elevation: 4.6° (Golden hour)

What this forecast looks for

Plain-language explanation from the rule

This forecast tracks the atmospheric conditions that create Australia's legendary fire skies—vivid red and orange sunsets intensified by bushfire smoke, dust, and tropical humidity. We monitor particulate levels, humidity, and atmospheric conditions to predict when the sky will ignite in extraordinary colors.

Australian fire skies result from several phenomena: bushfire smoke during fire season adds particles that scatter light dramatically, creating blood-red sunsets. Dust from the interior can create similar effects. The tropical and subtropical north brings high humidity that generates vivid colors even without smoke. When these factors align with cloud formations, the results can be otherworldly.

What makes Australian fire skies exceptional:

  • Bushfire season intensity - Summer and autumn bushfire smoke creates apocalyptic red sunsets across large areas
  • Dust effects - Interior dust storms occasionally reach the coast, creating dramatic atmospheric color
  • Tropical humidity - Queensland and northern NSW subtropical moisture generates vivid sunset colors
  • Urban reflections - Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane skylines silhouette against fire-colored skies

Best fire skies typically occur during bushfire season (November-March), though smoke impact varies annually based on fire conditions. Not every smoke-affected sunset is beautiful—heavy smoke can obscure the sun entirely—but moderate smoke levels create unforgettable colors. Tropical fire skies peak during humid summer months. Always monitor air quality; shooting during heavy smoke poses health risks.

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72-hour requirements breakdown

What passed or failed, hour by hour
1matching hours in the next 95 hoursJump to next match
AND logic: all conditions required
Meets requirement
Misses requirement
Time
Australia/Sydney
Golden Hour
Any
Fiery Red Sky Potential
≥ 90.0%
Precipitation Chance
≤ 15.0%
Visibility
≥ 8000.0m
Sun, Feb 22
12:000%0%24135m
13:000%0%24134m
14:000%0%24135m
15:000%0%24134m
16:000%0%24135m
17:000%0%24134m
18:0081%2.3%24134m
19:0077%4.7%24134m
20:0050%7%24135m
21:000%18%24135m
22:000%28%24135m
23:000%39%24134m
Mon, Feb 23
24:000%81%24135m
01:000%80%24135m
02:000%79%24135m
03:000%84%24135m
04:000%88%24135m
05:000%93%24135m
06:0069%92%24135m
07:0067%87%24135m
08:000%82%24134m
09:000%82%24134m
10:000%82%24135m
11:000%82%24055m
12:000%55%24134m
13:000%27%24135m
14:000%0%24134m
15:000%0%24134m
16:000%0%24134m
17:000%0%24135m
18:0085%0%24134m
19:00100%0%24135m
20:0060%0%24135m
21:000%13%24135m
22:000%26%24135m
23:000%39%24135m
Tue, Feb 24
24:000%53%24134m
01:000%68%24135m
02:000%82%24135m
03:000%85%24135m
04:000%88%24135m
05:000%92%24134m
06:0090%80%24135m
07:0082%68%24134m
08:000%56%24134m
09:000%62%19286m
10:000%68%12712m
11:000%74%11994m
12:000%62%21879m
13:000%50%24134m
14:000%39%24134m
15:000%45%24135m
16:000%50%24135m
17:000%56%24135m
18:0079%60%24135m
19:0080%64%22762m
20:0052%69%11871m
21:000%76%22967m
22:000%83%18673m
23:000%90%24135m
Wed, Feb 25
24:000%81%24135m
01:000%73%24135m
02:000%64%24134m
03:000%66%24134m
04:000%69%23157m
05:000%72%18475m
06:0061%61%24135m
07:0063%50%24135m
08:000%39%24134m
09:000%39%24134m
10:000%39%24135m
11:000%39%24134m
12:000%26%24135m
13:000%13%24135m
14:000%0%24134m
15:000%0%24135m
16:000%0%24134m
17:000%0%24135m
18:0066%11%24135m
19:0066%23%24135m
20:0044%34%24135m
21:000%43%24135m
22:000%53%24135m
23:000%62%24135m
Thu, Feb 26
24:000%55%24135m
01:000%47%24135m
02:000%40%24135m
03:000%45%24135m
04:000%49%24135m
05:000%54%24135m
06:0067%53%24135m
07:0062%52%24135m
08:000%51%24135m
09:000%54%24135m
10:000%58%24135m
How to read: colored cells show whether each predicate requirement is met; highlighted rows mean the full rule matched (an opportunity).

What does Fiery Red Sky Potential mean?

Inputs that drive the score

This derived score summarizes multiple raw weather signals. The table below shows the supporting inputs hour by hour, so you can see what's pushing the score up or down.

Time
Australia/Sydney
Aerosol Optical Depth (550nm)
Air Pressure
hPa
Dust AOD (550nm)
Golden Hour
High Clouds
%
Low Clouds
%
Mid-Level Clouds
%
RH @ 700 hPa
%
Relative Humidity
%
Smoke AOD (550nm)
Temperature
°C
Wind Speed
m/s
Ångström Exponent
Mon, Feb 23 Sunrise 06:33 Sunset 19:24
12:00
0.07 1005hPa 0.002 - 86% 76% 5% 14% 57% 0.005 28°C 2.7m/s 0.92
13:00
0.07 1005hPa 0.002 - 58% 42% 5% 14% 58% 0.005 28°C 3.5m/s 0.92
14:00
0.07 1004hPa 0.002 - 6% 23% 5% 14% 53% 0.005 29°C 4m/s 0.92
15:00
0.08 1004hPa 0.002 - 7% 13% 5% 15% 52% 0.005 29°C 3.8m/s 0.91
16:00
0.08 1004hPa 0.002 - 29% 1% 5% 16% 52% 0.005 29°C 4.3m/s 0.92
17:00
0.08 1004hPa 0.002 - 100% 0% 5% 17% 57% 0.005 27°C 4m/s 0.91
18:00
0.07 1005hPa 0.002 - 5% 0% 10% 20% 67% 0.004 26°C 3.3m/s 0.9
19:00
0.07 1006hPa 0.001 - 38% 0% 44% 23% 75% 0.004 24°C 3.2m/s 0.87
20:00
0.07 1006hPa 0.001 - 100% 0% 57% 26% 79% 0.003 23°C 3.3m/s 0.84
21:00
0.08 1007hPa 0.001 - 93% 0% 8% 25% 78% 0.003 23°C 2.7m/s 0.83
22:00
0.08 1008hPa 0.001 - 100% 0% 88% 25% 78% 0.003 22°C 2.4m/s 0.84
23:00
0.08 1008hPa 0.001 - 34% 0% 59% 24% 78% 0.003 22°C 2.2m/s 0.88
Tue, Feb 24 Sunrise 06:33 Sunset 19:24
24:00
0.09 1009hPa 0.001 - 100% 26% 6% 25% 84% 0.004 21°C 1.4m/s 0.92
01:00
0.09 1008hPa 0.001 - 100% 32% 7% 26% 87% 0.004 21°C 1.2m/s 0.95
02:00
0.09 1008hPa 0.001 - 100% 9% 80% 27% 86% 0.004 21°C 1.1m/s 0.97
03:00
0.1 1007hPa 0.001 - 100% 5% 5% 24% 83% 0.004 21°C 0.79m/s 0.96
04:00
0.1 1007hPa 0.001 - 71% 9% 5% 21% 85% 0.005 20°C 0.34m/s 0.94
05:00
0.1 1007hPa 0.001 - 80% 1% 6% 17% 88% 0.005 19°C 0.35m/s 0.9
06:00
0.1 1008hPa 0.001 - 93% 27% 20% 18% 91% 0.005 19°C 0.59m/s 0.89
07:00
0.1 1008hPa 0.001 - 100% 25% 6% 19% 90% 0.006 19°C 0.96m/s 0.85
08:00
0.1 1009hPa 0.001 - 100% 80% 91% 21% 78% 0.006 22°C 0.52m/s 0.85
09:00
0.1 1009hPa 0.001 - 49% 84% 53% 25% 77% 0.006 23°C 1m/s 0.83
10:00
0.1 1009hPa 0.001 - 0% 39% 5% 29% 86% 0.006 23°C 1.1m/s 0.82
11:00
0.1 1009hPa 0.001 - 0% 29% 7% 33% 81% 0.006 24°C 1.7m/s 0.82
12:00
0.09 1009hPa 0.001 - 0% 20% 5% 32% 74% 0.006 25°C 2.3m/s 0.87
13:00
0.08 1008hPa 0.001 - 0% 0% 5% 31% 53% 0.006 29°C 2.7m/s 0.9
14:00
0.08 1008hPa 0.001 - 0% 0% 5% 30% 49% 0.007 29°C 3.6m/s 0.92
15:00
0.09 1007hPa 0.001 - 0% 0% 5% 27% 50% 0.008 29°C 3.5m/s 0.93
16:00
0.09 1007hPa 0.001 - 0% 0% 5% 25% 54% 0.008 28°C 3.5m/s 0.93
17:00
0.09 1007hPa 0.001 - 0% 2% 3% 23% 59% 0.009 27°C 3.3m/s 0.92
18:00
0.09 1007hPa 0.001 - 0% 14% 4% 40% 65% 0.009 26°C 2.9m/s 0.92
19:00
0.1 1007hPa 0.001 - 0% 13% 5% 57% 80% 0.009 23°C 2m/s 0.9
20:00
0.1 1008hPa 0.001 - 0% 14% 5% 74% 95% 0.009 21°C 1.2m/s 0.89
21:00
0.1 1009hPa 0.001 - 0% 6% 5% 76% 96% 0.009 20°C 1m/s 0.9
22:00
0.11 1009hPa 0.001 - 0% 0% 5% 78% 97% 0.009 20°C 0.98m/s 0.89
23:00
0.11 1009hPa 0.001 - 0% 6% 5% 81% 98% 0.009 20°C 1.2m/s 0.89
Wed, Feb 25 Sunrise 06:34 Sunset 19:23
24:00
- 1008hPa - - 0% 22% 1% 82% 98% - 20°C 1m/s -
01:00
- 1008hPa - - 0% 18% 1% 84% 98% - 20°C 0.79m/s -
02:00
- 1008hPa - - 0% 11% 0% 85% 98% - 19°C 0.67m/s -
03:00
- 1007hPa - - 0% 13% 0% 83% 99% - 19°C 0.48m/s -
04:00
- 1007hPa - - 0% 60% 0% 81% 99% - 19°C 0.39m/s -
05:00
- 1007hPa - - 0% 99% 0% 80% 98% - 20°C 0.43m/s -
06:00
- 1007hPa - - 0% 100% 0% 73% 97% - 20°C 0.15m/s -
07:00
- 1008hPa - - 0% 100% 0% 66% 96% - 20°C 0.34m/s -
08:00
- 1008hPa - - 0% 100% 0% 59% 95% - 21°C 0.35m/s -
09:00
- 1008hPa - - 0% 100% 0% 47% 93% - 21°C 0.27m/s -
10:00
- 1008hPa - - 0% 100% 0% 36% 90% - 22°C 0.41m/s -
11:00
- 1008hPa - - 0% 98% 0% 25% 82% - 23°C 0.82m/s -
12:00
- 1008hPa - - 0% 92% 0% 20% 63% - 25°C 1.6m/s -
13:00
- 1007hPa - - 0% 87% 0% 14% 59% - 26°C 2.2m/s -
14:00
- 1007hPa - - 0% 99% 0% 9.3% 54% - 27°C 2.5m/s -
15:00
- 1006hPa - - 0% 46% 0% 9.2% 57% - 26°C 2.9m/s -
16:00
- 1005hPa - - 1% 18% 0% 9.2% 54% - 26°C 2.7m/s -
17:00
- 1005hPa - - 2% 22% 0% 9.1% 55% - 26°C 2.8m/s -
18:00
- 1004hPa - - 2% 24% 0% 14% 67% - 23°C 2.4m/s -
19:00
- 1004hPa - - 3% 26% 0% 18% 78% - 20°C 1.9m/s -
20:00
- 1003hPa - - 3% 28% 0% 23% 90% - 17°C 1.4m/s -
21:00
- 1003hPa - - 3% 27% 0% 26% 91% - 17°C 1.4m/s -
22:00
- 1003hPa - - 2% 25% 0% 29% 92% - 17°C 1.5m/s -
23:00
- 1002hPa - - 1% 23% 0% 32% 94% - 17°C 1.6m/s -
Thu, Feb 26 Sunrise 06:35 Sunset 19:22
24:00
- 1003hPa - - 1% 38% 0% 23% 90% - 18°C 1.6m/s -
01:00
- 1003hPa - - 0% 53% 0% 15% 85% - 19°C 1.7m/s -
02:00
- 1003hPa - - 0% 67% 0% 6.6% 81% - 21°C 1.8m/s -
03:00
- 1003hPa - - 0% 60% 0% 5.7% 73% - 22°C 2.5m/s -
04:00
- 1004hPa - - 0% 54% 0% 4.9% 65% - 24°C 3.1m/s -
05:00
- 1004hPa - - 0% 47% 0% 4% 57% - 25°C 3.8m/s -
06:00
- 1003hPa - - 0% 64% 2% 4.8% 58% - 25°C 4m/s -
07:00
- 1003hPa - - 0% 82% 4% 5.7% 60% - 25°C 4.3m/s -
08:00
- 1002hPa - - 0% 100% 6% 6.5% 62% - 25°C 4.5m/s -
09:00
- 1002hPa - - 0% 100% 31% 8.5% 66% - 25°C 4.2m/s -
10:00
- 1002hPa - - 0% 100% 56% 11% 69% - 24°C 3.9m/s -
11:00
- 1002hPa - - 0% 100% 81% 13% 73% - 23°C 3.6m/s -
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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