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Rule Rainbow Chaser

Waimea Canyon - Rainbow Chaser - Hawaii

Lihue, Hawaii, United States

Sun breaking through rain — perfect rainbow conditions

Currently

Real-time conditions
Sun Elevation48.6° (Daylight)
Precipitation0.3mm
Rain0.0mm
Showers0.3mm

Upcoming Opportunities

When all conditions match, PhotoWeather marks an opportunity window.

Times shown in Pacific/Honolulu
Next opportunity
Very Good Chance of Rainbow
Waimea Canyon
Today · 16:00–18:00 · 2h window
Low confidence
39%
🌈Rainbow Probability62.9-70%
Sun Elevation: 23.2° (Daylight)
Precipitation: 1.9mm
Rain: 0.1mm
Showers: 0.5mm
rainbow weather icon
Excellent Chance of Rainbow
Waimea Canyon
Tomorrow · 08:00–11:00
🌈Rainbow Probability:60.8-85%
Low
rainbow weather icon
Very Good Chance of Rainbow
Waimea Canyon
Tomorrow · 16:00–18:00
🌈Rainbow Probability:67.2-75%
Low
rainbow weather icon
Very Good Chance of Rainbow
Waimea Canyon
Thu, Mar 12 · 09:00–10:00
🌈Rainbow Probability:75%
Medium
rainbow weather icon
Excellent Chance of Rainbow
Waimea Canyon
Thu, Mar 12 · 16:00–18:00
🌈Rainbow Probability:61.5-85%
Low
rainbow weather icon
Excellent Chance of Rainbow (double)
Waimea Canyon
Sat, Mar 14 · 08:00–10:00
🌈Rainbow Probability:95%
Low
rainbow weather icon
Very Good Chance of Rainbow
Waimea Canyon
Sat, Mar 14 · 16:00–18:00
🌈Rainbow Probability:70-70.1%
Low
+6 more windows in the next 10 days

What this forecast looks for

Plain-language explanation from the rule

This forecast tracks Hawaii's world-famous rainbow conditions. We analyze sun position, precipitation patterns, cloud breaks, and visibility to predict when and where rainbows are most likely to appear.

Hawaii sees more rainbows than almost anywhere else on Earth. The combination of consistent trade winds, abundant tropical showers, and reliable sunshine creates the perfect recipe. In Hawaiian culture, rainbows (ānuenue) hold deep spiritual significance—they're even on the state license plate.

What makes Hawaii special for rainbow photography:

  • Frequency - Trade wind showers and sunshine create multiple daily rainbow opportunities
  • Dramatic backdrops - Volcanic peaks, waterfalls, and tropical valleys frame the arcs
  • Double rainbows - Common in Hawaii due to intense tropical light
  • Accessibility - Rainbows appear frequently in easily-reached locations

Rainbows are most common in the morning and late afternoon when sun angle is optimal. The windward (east/north) sides of islands see more rain and therefore more rainbows. Look for conditions where sun breaks through behind you while rain falls ahead—our forecast helps identify these alignments. The Hana Highway on Maui and Hilo on the Big Island are particularly reliable rainbow zones.

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72-hour requirements breakdown

What passed or failed, hour by hour
11matching hours in the next 95 hoursJump to next match
AND logic: all conditions required
Meets requirement
Misses requirement
Time
Pacific/Honolulu
Rainbow Probability
≥ 60.0%
Visibility
≥ 8000.0m
Mon, Mar 9
15:000%24134m
16:0039%24134m
17:0045%24135m
18:0031%24135m
19:000%18180m
20:000%18839m
21:000%24135m
22:000%24134m
23:000%24135m
Tue, Mar 10
24:000%24134m
01:000%24134m
02:000%11179m
03:000%10011m
04:000%24134m
05:000%24135m
06:000%24134m
07:000%24112m
08:000%23857m
09:0070%13888m
10:0012%24135m
11:000%24134m
12:000%24134m
13:000%24135m
14:000%24134m
15:000%15074m
16:0063%15195m
17:0070%15567m
18:0050%9226m
19:000%8134m
20:000%7092m
21:000%6088m
22:000%4518m
23:000%9841m
Wed, Mar 11
24:000%10090m
01:000%5348m
02:000%4118m
03:000%4342m
04:000%4788m
05:000%23202m
06:000%9508m
07:000%22806m
08:0085%22817m
09:0075%22756m
10:0061%10432m
11:000%10362m
12:000%23159m
13:000%10073m
14:000%9340m
15:000%8808m
16:0067%24134m
17:0075%11316m
18:0050%9975m
19:000%23195m
20:000%10648m
21:000%24135m
22:000%24135m
23:000%24134m
Thu, Mar 12
24:000%10737m
01:000%24134m
02:000%24134m
03:000%24134m
04:000%9913m
05:000%24134m
06:000%24135m
07:000%24135m
08:000%24134m
09:0075%24134m
10:000%24134m
11:000%10380m
12:000%6143m
13:000%23465m
14:000%24025m
15:000%24134m
16:0061%24134m
17:0085%11379m
18:0052%11919m
19:000%10437m
20:000%23714m
21:000%15901m
22:000%8087m
23:000%274m
Fri, Mar 13
24:000%230m
01:000%185m
02:000%141m
03:000%129m
04:000%117m
05:000%105m
06:000%110m
07:000%116m
08:000%121m
09:000%112m
10:000%102m
11:000%93m
12:000%91m
13:000%89m
How to read: colored cells show whether each predicate requirement is met; highlighted rows mean the full rule matched (an opportunity).

What does Rainbow Probability 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
Pacific/Honolulu
Precipitation Chance
%
Rainfall
mm
Showers
mm
Solar Elevation
°
Sunshine Duration
seconds
Total Cloud Coverage
%
Total Precipitation
mm
Tue, Mar 10 Sunrise 06:49 Sunset 18:44
15:00
100% 0mm 0.35mm 49° 3600seconds 100% 0.31mm
16:00
100% 0.01mm 0.49mm 36° 3600seconds 100% 0.94mm
17:00
100% 0.07mm 0.48mm 23° 3600seconds 100% 1.9mm
18:00
100% 0.03mm 0.91mm 9.7° 3600seconds 100% 2.8mm
19:00
100% 0mm 1.2mm -4.2° 0seconds 100% 3.8mm
20:00
100% 0mm 1.5mm -18° 0seconds 100% 5.1mm
21:00
100% 0mm 2mm -32° 0seconds 100% 1.8mm
22:00
100% 0mm 2.8mm -45° 0seconds 100% 4.1mm
23:00
100% 0mm 2.3mm -58° 0seconds 100% 6.6mm
Wed, Mar 11 Sunrise 06:49 Sunset 18:44
24:00
100% 0mm 2mm -68° 0seconds 100% 9.1mm
01:00
100% 0mm 2.3mm -71° 0seconds 100% 11mm
02:00
100% 0mm 3.1mm -65° 0seconds 92% 14mm
03:00
100% 0mm 3.1mm -53° 0seconds 95% 3mm
04:00
100% 0mm 3mm -40° 0seconds 97% 6.1mm
05:00
100% 0mm 1.9mm -26° 0seconds 45% 8.8mm
06:00
100% 0mm 2.4mm -12° 0seconds 43% 11mm
07:00
100% 0.01mm 1.8mm 1.9° 0seconds 79% 14mm
08:00
100% 0mm 2mm 15° 0seconds 12% 16mm
09:00
100% 0mm 1.7mm 29° 3600seconds 8% 2.3mm
10:00
100% 0mm 1.6mm 42° 3600seconds 20% 4.8mm
11:00
100% 0mm 2mm 53° 3600seconds 5% 6.9mm
12:00
100% 0mm 1.5mm 62° 3600seconds 16% 8.8mm
13:00
100% 0mm 2.1mm 64° 3600seconds 61% 10mm
14:00
100% 0mm 2.1mm 59° 3600seconds 98% 11mm
15:00
100% 0mm 2.9mm 49° 3600seconds 47% 1.1mm
16:00
99% 0mm 0.7mm 37° 3600seconds 5% 2.3mm
17:00
99% 0mm 1.1mm 23° 3600seconds 5% 3.4mm
18:00
99% 0mm 2.3mm 9.8° 3600seconds 5% 4.4mm
19:00
99% 0mm 2.2mm -4.1° 3600seconds 5% 5.3mm
20:00
99% 0mm 0.88mm -18° 3600seconds 5% 5.9mm
21:00
99% 0mm 0.19mm -32° 0seconds 7% 0.63mm
22:00
98% 0mm 1.2mm -45° 0seconds 100% 1.2mm
23:00
97% 0mm 0mm -58° 0seconds 100% 1.8mm
Thu, Mar 12 Sunrise 06:48 Sunset 18:45
24:00
98% 0mm 1.2mm -68° 0seconds 100% 2.7mm
01:00
98% 0mm 0.48mm -71° 0seconds 100% 3.3mm
02:00
99% 0mm 1.1mm -64° 0seconds 100% 3.9mm
03:00
91% 0mm 0mm -53° 0seconds 100% 0.5mm
04:00
83% 0mm 1.6mm -40° 0seconds 100% 1.1mm
05:00
75% 0mm 0.5mm -26° 0seconds 100% 1.5mm
06:00
82% 0mm 0.52mm -12° 0seconds 100% 1.8mm
07:00
89% 0mm 0.64mm 2.1° 0seconds 100% 2.3mm
08:00
96% 0mm 0.48mm 16° 0seconds 100% 2.5mm
09:00
95% 0mm 0.57mm 29° 3600seconds 100% 0.31mm
10:00
94% 0mm 0mm 42° 3600seconds 95% 0.63mm
11:00
94% 0.39mm 1.4mm 54° 3600seconds 96% 1.1mm
12:00
96% 0.06mm 1.7mm 62° 3600seconds 97% 2.7mm
13:00
98% 0.27mm 0mm 65° 3600seconds 100% 4.5mm
14:00
100% 0.07mm 0.01mm 59° 3600seconds 90% 4.8mm
15:00
100% 0mm 0mm 49° 3600seconds 100% 0mm
16:00
99% 0mm 0.16mm 37° 3600seconds 100% 0.13mm
17:00
99% 0mm 0.8mm 23° 3600seconds 88% 0.5mm
18:00
99% 0mm 1.1mm 9.8° 3600seconds 100% 1.3mm
19:00
100% 0.26mm 1.4mm -4° 3600seconds 100% 2.7mm
20:00
100% 0.2mm 0.17mm -18° 3600seconds 100% 3.6mm
21:00
100% 1.5mm 0.28mm -32° 2400seconds 100% 7.6mm
22:00
99% 2.7mm 0.4mm -45° 1200seconds 100% 12mm
23:00
99% 4mm 0.51mm -58° 0seconds 100% 16mm
Fri, Mar 13 Sunrise 06:47 Sunset 18:45
24:00
99% 6.9mm 0.79mm -68° 0seconds 100% 24mm
01:00
99% 9.8mm 1.1mm -71° 0seconds 100% 32mm
02:00
99% 13mm 1.3mm -64° 0seconds 100% 40mm
03:00
99% 11mm 1.3mm -52° 0seconds 100% 38mm
04:00
99% 10mm 1.2mm -39° 0seconds 100% 36mm
05:00
99% 8.6mm 1.2mm -26° 0seconds 100% 33mm
06:00
100% 6.6mm 0.83mm -12° 0seconds 100% 44mm
07:00
100% 4.6mm 0.48mm 2.3° 0seconds 100% 54mm
08:00
100% 2.5mm 0.14mm 16° 0seconds 100% 65mm
09:00
100% 3.7mm 0.48mm 29° 0seconds 100% 49mm
10:00
100% 4.8mm 0.82mm 42° 0seconds 100% 34mm
11:00
100% 6mm 1.2mm 54° 0seconds 100% 18mm
12:00
100% 4.2mm 0.79mm 63° 0seconds 100% 24mm
13:00
100% 2.5mm 0.41mm 65° 0seconds 100% 29mm
14:00
100% 0.7mm 0.04mm 60° 0seconds 100% 34mm
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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