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Rule Golden Hour

Miette - Golden Hour - Canadian Rockies

Miette, Alberta, Canada

That magical warm light just after sunrise or before sunset

Currently

Real-time conditions
Low Cloud Cover5%
Mid Cloud Cover56%
High Cloud Cover100%
Sun Elevation9.7° (Daylight)

Upcoming Opportunities

When all conditions match, PhotoWeather marks an opportunity window.

Times shown in America/Edmonton
golden-hour weather icon
Next opportunity
Exceptional Golden Hour (calm) at Sunrise
Miette
Thu, May 28 · 05:05–06:28 · 1h window
Medium confidence
40%
🌇Golden Hour Potential88.2-100%
Low Cloud Cover: 39%
Mid Cloud Cover: 22%
High Cloud Cover: 0%
Sun Elevation: 2.5° (Golden hour)

What this forecast looks for

Plain-language explanation from the rule

This forecast predicts when the continental divide peaks will catch alpenglow—that magical pink and orange light that makes the Rockies one of the world's premier golden hour destinations. We track clear sky conditions, sun angle, and atmospheric clarity to identify perfect alpenglow windows.

The Canadian Rockies run along the continental divide, with massive peaks rising directly from valley floors. This dramatic topography means the first and last light hits mountains while valleys remain in shadow, creating spectacular contrasts. The high latitude also means golden hour lasts longer than in equatorial regions.

What makes Rockies golden hour exceptional:

  • Continental divide peaks - Massive mountains catch first and last light while valleys remain cool-toned
  • Vermillion Lakes - Classic location where Mount Rundle catches alpenglow with wetland reflections in foreground
  • Castle Mountain - Distinctive layered peak that glows dramatically at sunset
  • Extended duration - Northern latitude means golden hour light lasts 30-60 minutes longer than southern locations

Best photography occurs at classic locations like Vermillion Lakes for sunrise on Mount Rundle, or Two Jack Lake for sunset on Mount Rundle from the east. Summer solstice brings challenges with very early sunrise times (5am), while autumn offers more reasonable timing with fall colors as bonus.

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72-hour requirements breakdown

What passed or failed, hour by hour
0matching hours in the next 80 hours
AND logic: all conditions required
Meets requirement
Misses requirement
Time
America/Edmonton
Golden Hour
Any
Golden Hour Potential
≥ 80.0%
Precipitation Chance
≤ 5.0%
Visibility
≥ 1000.0m
Sat, May 23
22:0056%93%13556m
23:0047%92%12142m
Sun, May 24
24:0027%91%4077m
01:0021%26%24134m
02:0022%13%24134m
03:0026%0%24134m
04:0024%13%24135m
05:0051%26%24134m
06:0064%39%24135m
07:0031%26%24135m
08:0031%13%24135m
09:0034%0%24134m
10:0034%13%24134m
11:0025%26%24134m
12:0022%39%24134m
13:0026%39%24135m
14:0026%40%24134m
15:0023%40%24135m
16:0023%45%24134m
17:0027%51%24135m
18:0023%56%24135m
19:0025%40%24135m
20:0025%23%24135m
21:0060%7%24135m
22:0056%4.7%24134m
23:0055%2.3%24134m
Mon, May 25
24:0031%0%24134m
01:0037%0%24135m
02:0032%0%24134m
03:0037%0%24135m
04:0035%13%24135m
05:0094%26%24134m
06:0063%39%24135m
07:0035%43%24134m
08:0031%47%24134m
09:0035%51%24134m
10:0029%47%24134m
11:0026%43%24135m
12:0026%39%24134m
13:0023%41%24135m
14:0023%44%24134m
15:0023%46%24135m
16:0023%44%24134m
17:0025%41%24134m
18:0028%39%24135m
19:0034%33%24134m
20:0034%28%24135m
21:0068%22%24134m
22:0069%21%24134m
23:0069%20%24134m
Tue, May 26
24:0035%18%24135m
01:0036%18%24134m
02:0027%18%24135m
03:0023%18%22985m
04:0019%25%24135m
05:0046%31%24134m
06:0045%37%12386m
07:0016%35%4206m
08:0017%33%1594m
09:0019%31%22914m
10:0019%41%24134m
11:0020%51%24135m
12:0020%62%24134m
13:008.6%50%24134m
14:008.7%37%24135m
15:008.8%25%24135m
16:008.5%29%24135m
17:007.8%33%24135m
18:007.8%36%24135m
19:007.6%58%17936m
20:007.2%79%11737m
21:0037%100%5537m
22:0046%75%10672m
23:0044%49%15807m
Wed, May 27
24:008.2%24%20942m
01:008.2%20%22006m
02:008.8%17%23071m
03:009.1%13%24135m
04:009.5%12%24135m
05:0059%11%24135m
How to read: colored cells show whether each predicate requirement is met; highlighted rows mean the full rule matched (an opportunity).

What does Golden Hour 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
America/Edmonton
Golden Hour
High Clouds
%
Low Clouds
%
Mid-Level Clouds
%
Relative Humidity
%
Total Cloud Coverage
%
Wind Speed
m/s
Sun, May 24 Sunrise 05:39 Sunset 21:58
07:00
- 100% 5% 56% 89% 100% 1.1m/s
08:00
- 100% 5% 50% 80% 100% 1.2m/s
09:00
- 100% 5% 100% 68% 100% 0.72m/s
10:00
- 100% 36% 100% 50% 100% 1.2m/s
11:00
- 100% 7% 100% 39% 100% 1.8m/s
12:00
- 100% 39% 100% 33% 100% 2.1m/s
13:00
- 100% 69% 100% 32% 100% 2.9m/s
14:00
- 100% 68% 100% 32% 100% 3.9m/s
15:00
- 82% 40% 100% 31% 100% 3.6m/s
16:00
- 99% 36% 100% 30% 100% 4m/s
17:00
- 100% 8% 100% 32% 100% 3.9m/s
18:00
- 100% 52% 100% 35% 100% 2.6m/s
19:00
- 100% 78% 100% 39% 100% 1m/s
20:00
- 100% 100% 100% 48% 100% 0.73m/s
21:00
- 100% 61% 100% 59% 100% 1.2m/s
22:00
- 100% 36% 100% 69% 100% 1m/s
23:00
- 100% 8% 61% 78% 100% 0.24m/s
Mon, May 25 Sunrise 05:38 Sunset 21:59
24:00
- 100% 5% 19% 83% 100% 0.63m/s
01:00
- 29% 16% 5% 84% 29% 1.1m/s
02:00
- 100% 28% 5% 87% 100% 1.4m/s
03:00
- 3% 23% 6% 85% 24% 1.6m/s
04:00
- 43% 17% 35% 89% 43% 1.9m/s
05:00
- 5% 13% 9% 91% 16% 2.1m/s
06:00
- 99% 32% 10% 91% 99% 2.3m/s
07:00
- 50% 27% 51% 82% 51% 2.4m/s
08:00
- 40% 4% 100% 70% 100% 2.8m/s
09:00
- 80% 4% 100% 62% 100% 2.9m/s
10:00
- 80% 28% 100% 56% 100% 2.8m/s
11:00
- 100% 80% 100% 57% 100% 2.5m/s
12:00
- 100% 33% 100% 60% 100% 2.7m/s
13:00
- 100% 30% 100% 56% 100% 2.8m/s
14:00
- 100% 18% 100% 51% 100% 2.4m/s
15:00
- 100% 64% 100% 46% 100% 2.3m/s
16:00
- 100% 74% 100% 53% 100% 3.3m/s
17:00
- 100% 40% 100% 57% 100% 3.2m/s
18:00
- 100% 10% 100% 48% 100% 1.8m/s
19:00
- 100% 22% 100% 44% 100% 2.1m/s
20:00
- 100% 5% 100% 50% 100% 1.4m/s
21:00
- 100% 2% 100% 57% 100% 1.7m/s
22:00
- 100% 0% 100% 62% 100% 0.71m/s
23:00
- 100% 5% 15% 66% 100% 0.73m/s
Tue, May 26 Sunrise 05:37 Sunset 22:01
24:00
- 29% 5% 77% 69% 77% 1.3m/s
01:00
- 5% 0% 95% 71% 95% 1.4m/s
02:00
- 5% 2% 98% 72% 98% 1.9m/s
03:00
- 35% 48% 89% 82% 89% 3m/s
04:00
- 100% 100% 100% 94% 100% 1.5m/s
05:00
- 100% 100% 100% 94% 100% 1.9m/s
06:00
- 100% 100% 5% 95% 100% 1.1m/s
07:00
- 100% 100% 100% 97% 100% 1.4m/s
08:00
- 100% 100% 99% 98% 100% 1.3m/s
09:00
- 100% 100% 5% 96% 100% 1.2m/s
10:00
- 100% 100% 100% 90% 100% 0.73m/s
11:00
- 100% 100% 96% 88% 100% 1m/s
12:00
- 100% 100% 100% 86% 100% 1.1m/s
13:00
- 100% 73% 100% 84% 100% 1.6m/s
14:00
- 100% 46% 100% 82% 100% 2.2m/s
15:00
- 100% 19% 100% 80% 100% 2.8m/s
16:00
- 100% 19% 100% 85% 100% 2.3m/s
17:00
- 100% 19% 100% 91% 100% 1.9m/s
18:00
- 100% 19% 100% 96% 100% 1.5m/s
19:00
- 100% 31% 93% 97% 100% 1.5m/s
20:00
- 100% 43% 86% 97% 100% 1.5m/s
21:00
- 100% 56% 79% 98% 100% 1.5m/s
22:00
- 82% 59% 86% 98% 100% 1.2m/s
23:00
- 65% 62% 93% 97% 100% 0.96m/s
Wed, May 27 Sunrise 05:36 Sunset 22:02
24:00
- 47% 65% 100% 97% 100% 0.68m/s
01:00
- 65% 54% 100% 92% 100% 0.7m/s
02:00
- 82% 42% 100% 87% 100% 0.73m/s
03:00
- 100% 30% 100% 82% 100% 0.76m/s
04:00
- 91% 29% 100% 76% 100% 0.78m/s
05:00
- 82% 28% 100% 70% 100% 0.79m/s
06:00
- 74% 26% 100% 64% 100% 0.81m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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